Stephen Decatur Jr. was a U.S. naval officer and commodore. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County. His father, Stephen DecaturĀ Sr., was a commodore in the United States Navy who served during the American Revolution; he brought the younger Stephen into the world of ships and sailing early on. Shortly after attending college, Decatur followed in his father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy at age 19 as a midshipman.
Portrait by Charles Bird King
USS Constellation, the first U.S. Navy vessel put to sea
Barbary Coast of North Africa
Grounding and capture of USS Philadelphia
Worcester County, Maryland
Worcester County is the easternmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,460. Its county seat is Snow Hill.
George Washington Purnell House