Naval officer, born in Wexford County, Ireland, in 1745; died in Philadelphia, on the 13th of September 1803. He followed the seas, becoming master of a trading-ship; offered his services to the American colonies on their revolt from the British crown; in February 1776, became commander of the Lexington, with which he captured the British tender Edward; was transferred to the command of the frigate Effingham; in the winter of 1776–77, assisted at the battle of Trenton with some heavy artillery; in 1777, with four boats, captured a British war-schooner in the Delaware River; in 1778 commanded the Raleigh, which was pursued and driven on shore by a British squadron; was transferred to the Alliance, and in a severe engagement captured the Atalanta and the Trepassy, and was wounded. In 1794, when the new navy was organized, he was senior officer, with the rank of commodore.
