Hull

Santo Domingo (Goldsborough, post, p. 171).
When the navy was reorganized at the conclusion
of hostilities, Hull stood second on the new list
of lieutenants, Mar. 3, 1801. War with Tripoli
soon followed and in 1803 he was given command
of the schooner Enterprise and shortly after of
the brig Argus, in which he took part in the at-
tacks on Tripoli by Commodore Edward Preble's
squadron in 1804. On May 18 of that year he
was promoted to commander. In 1805 he co-
operated with Gen. William Eaton [q.v.] in the
assault and capture of Derne. He was promoted
to captain Apr. 23, 1806. In the summer he re-
turned to the United States and was employed
on shore duty for nearly four years.

In 1810 Hull was given command of the Con-
stitution. The next year he was sent to Europe
with Joel Barlow, minister to France, and with
specie for payment of the interest on the Dutch
debt After having landed Barlow at Cherbourg
and the money at the Texel, he spent several
weeks in the English Channel. One of his men
deserted, claiming British protection, and the
British admiral refused to give him up. Conse-
quently, when a British sailor swam to the Con-
stitution' and claimed protection as an American,
Captain Hull refused to surrender him. Trouble
over this matter was expected, but did not come.
The Constitution returned to the United States
early in 1812 and was thoroughly overhauled
and made ready for service. War against Great
Britain was declared June 18.

On July 12 the Constitution sailed out of
Chesapeake Bay, bound to New York to join the
squadron of Commodore Rodgers. She was
chased nearly three days by five British men-of-
war and only consummate seamanship enabled
her to escape and take refuge in Boston. She
set sail on a cruise to the eastward Aug. I, and
on Aug. 19 fell in with the British frigate Guer-
rikre. After considerable maneuvering, during
which the British ship fired rapidly but with
little effect, about six o'clock in the afternoon the
Constitution delivered her first broadside, within
pistol-shot. After fifteen minutes the Guerri&re's
mizzen-mast went over the side, in another quar-
ter of an hour the mainmast followed, and about
the same time the foremast also fell. The Guer-
rifre then surrendered, a total wreck. Although
the Constitution was superior in number of guns
and men, the injury inflicted on her opponent
was out of all proportion to the difference in
force. The British loss was fifteen killed and six-
ty-four wounded, eight of them mortally; the
American, seven killed and seven wounded. The
Constitution received some damage to her spars
and rigging, while the Guerrlbre, a helpless hulk,

Hull

could not be brought into port and was burned.
On this battle Captain Hull's fame chiefly rests.
His expert seamanship and training of his crew
in gunnery have ever since been recognized by
authorities as placing him among the ablest of
naval commanders. It was the first important
naval battle of the war, and had he been defeated,
the moral effect would have been disastrous. He
returned to Boston and was given a most en-
thusiastic reception. He did not go to sea again
during the war, since other officers had to be
given their turn.

He commanded the Boston Navy Yard a few
months and then the Portsmouth Navy Yard
In New York, Jan. 2, 1813, he married Anna
McCurdy Hart, daughter of Capt. Elisha Hart
of Saybrook. They had no children. In 1815
Hull was appointed navy commissioner, but he
soon resigned this office to take command of the
Boston Yard again. During his eight years there
charges of financial irregularities were brought
against him, but a court of inquiry completely
cleared him (Minutes of the Proceedings of the
Court of Inquiry into the Official Conduct of
Capt. Isaac Hull, 1822). About this time he ex-
pressed advanced views on the subjects of naval
policy, rank and command.

His next sea service was in command of the
Pacific Station. He now first received the title
of commodore. Sailing in the frigate United
States, Jan. 5, 1824, accompanied by Mrs. Hull
and her sister, he arrived at Callao, Peru, three
months later. At that time the South American
colonies were ridding themselves of the Spanish
yoke, and conditions were much disturbed. Dur-
ing his stay of three years, Hull cooperated with
the United States consul in the protection of
American interests and the relief of ill-used
American seamen and others. He remained at
Callao most of the time, though he cruised about
frequently, visiting Valparaiso and other ports.
His relations with General Bolivar were friendly.
He was relieved in January 1827, and returned
home. Again charges, mainly of misusing funds
which he controlled, were brought against him,
this time before a congressional committee, and
an investigation of his conduct on the Pacific
Station was demanded. Again, however, he was
completely exonerated (see Papers, post, pp. 64-
67 and House Report No. 77,22 Cong,, a Sess.,
Jan. 29, 1833).

After a leave of absence, he was appointed
in 1829, commandant of the Washington Navy
Yard, a post which he held six years, following
which service another leave, obtained on account
of Mrs, Hull's ill health, was spent in European
travel In 1838 Hull was chairman of the Board

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