Commodore Thomas MacDonough, 1800-1825

Building a fleet from scratch on Lake Champlain during the War of 1812, he defeated and captured a squadron of British ships at the Battle of Lake Champlain on September 11, 1814, turning back an attempted invasion of the U.S. from Canada. This total victory not only turned aside the invasion, but led to the peace negotiations to end the War. Commanded frigate Guerrier (1818-20), Ohio (1820-24), and the Mediterranean Squadron (1824-25).