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Birth
He was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. -
Service in the West Indies
When Perry was about fourteen years old, he, along with his father Capt. Christopher Raymond Perry, served as a midshipman during the quasi-wars in the West Indies. He spent a few years in the Caribbean before returning home. -
Returns Home
Oliver Hazard Perry returns home after eight years in the Caribbean. He takes the leadership role of the construction of a fleet in Rhode Island. -
First Seagoing Command
The Revenge, a large fourteen-gun ship, was the first ship Perry was commander of. Due to bad weather, the ship got destroyed in the Atlantic Ocean. -
Gets Married
Marries Elizabeth Champlin Mason in Newport, Rhode Island. -
Flotilla Commander
When war broke out between the United States and Britain, Perry was commander of a flotilla in Newport, Virginia. A flotilla is another name for a fleet of ships. -
Perry is given command of the Lake Erie American naval fleet
At the beginning of the war, Perry is given leadership of the Lake Erie navy. His expertice and strategic thinking will come in handy later on. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
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Commander of Lake Erie
Perry oversees the construction of the first American fleet as commander of the Lake Erie American naval forces. These ships will be used in the Battle of Lake Erie. -
Perry vs. Barclay
Barclay challenges the American fleet to start the Battle of Lake Erie. The battle begins at 10:00am and will end in the afternoon. -
"Don't Give Up the Ship"
As the Lawrence ran out of supplies and was sinking, Perry left on a tiny passenger boat over to the Niagara. There, he overpowered British forces to surrender. -
Commander of the Java
In Baltimore, Perry is commander of a 44-gun ship named the Java. While there, he volunteers to fight against the British in land battles near Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. -
Barbary Pirates
Oliver Hazard Perry is sent to Tripoli to fight the Barbary Pirates in his ship, the Java. He helps the Americans and Europeans win in this war, shortly after the War of 1812 comes to an end. -
Duels
He survives a duel against John Heath, his Marine officer. Later that year, he declines a duel against Lt. Jesse Duncan Elliot, a Niagara officer. -
Death
He died of Yellow Fever in Trinidad & Tobago after completing a mission in the Caribbean.
