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Commodore William J. McCluney (12 April 1796 — 11 February 1864) was a United States Navy officer whose service included the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Battle of Ty-ho Bay, China. McCluney commanded two of the flagships—the USS Mississippi and the USS Powhatan—in support of the Perry Expedition to Japan in 1853-1854. As a flag officer, McCluney transported the first Japanese Embassy to the United States aboard his flagship, the USS Roanoke, in 1860 on the last leg of their journey. Early life Born near Washington, Pennsylvania on 12 April 1796, William was the first child and only son of merchant James McCluney and Martha Levy. William's father died in 1799 leaving him, his mother, and two infant sisters on the Pennsylvania frontier. Four-year-old William's mother moved the family to Philadelphia in 1800. To support her family, William's mother became a shopkeeper in the heart of Philadelphia's commercial center. William's childhood was spent along the waterfront of America's busiest port. At age 15, McCluney applied for a commission in the U.S. Navy and on 1 January 1812, he became a midshipman. His first assignment was aboard the sloop-of-war USS Wasp (1807) under Master Commandant Jacob Jones and first Lieutenant James Biddle, a fellow Philadelphian. Early naval service War of 1812 McCluney's naval career began on the eve of the second war between the United States and Great Britain—now called the War of 1812. McCluney may have been aboard the Wasp returning from a diplomatic mission to France when the war hawks in Congress and President James Madison declared war on 18 June. For certain, he was aboard when the Wasp sailed from Philadelphia on 13 October with orders to harass British commercial shipping. After a storm damaged the ship and swept two crewmen overboard, the Wasp sighted a convoy of merchantmen accompanied by warships. On Sunday morning 18 October, the Wasp closed with the convoy and engaged the 22-gun brig-sloop HMB Frolic. The ships exchanged broadside after broadside at close range, at times hull-to-hull in heavy seas. Finally, the Wasp pulled ahead and unleashed raking fire the length of Frolic's deck. Wasp First Officer James Biddle led the boarding party to discover the destruction of the Frolic, both ship and crew. All of Frolic's officers and more than half her men were dead or wounded. Wounded British Commander Thomas Whinyates surrendered, but was unable to strike the Frolic's colors. Lieutenant Biddle struck for him. Moments later, both of Frolic's masts fell "by-the-board". The Wasp was badly damaged as well. Five men were dead and five wounded. Contemporary historians described the Wasp-Frolic battle as possibly the most intense single-ship action of the war. Commandant Jones put a prize-crew aboard the Frolic to jury-rig repairs and assist the Frolic's surgeon with the wounded. Neither victor nor vanquished could sail. Sunday afternoon, the 74-gun British battleship HMS Poitiers arrived, forcing both the Wasp and her prize to surrender. At dawn, Sunday, 18 October, five days from his home in Philadelphia, McCluney, 16, the least experienced officer aboard the Wasp, could only imagine the coming duel of warships. By noon, McCluney had witnessed the death and dismemberment of more than a hundred comrades and enemy. By evening, he was a prisoner of war. Thus began a 50-year naval career. See main article: Capture of HMS Frolic Reception at home The British paroled the men of the Wasp in Bermuda and they returned to the United States. Officers and crew were greeted as national heroes. Along with the crew of the USS United States which had captured the HMS Macedonian seven days after the Wasp-Frolic battle, the sailors were celebrated in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Congress voted $25,000 to officers and crew of the Wasp, compensation for the loss of their prize. A gold Congressional medal—precursor to the Medal of Honor—was awarded to Jones. Silver medals were awarded to the officers. Jones was promoted to captain and command of the now USS Macedonian. Biddle was promoted to master commandant and command of Wasp's sister ship, USS Hornet. McCluney received a share of the Congressional prize money, a silver medal, and assignment to the Macedonian. By spring 1813, the British blockade of North America kept the Macedonian and sister ships confined to New York and New London harbors. The naval war shifted from the Atlantic to the Great Lakes. McCluney was ordered to Sacketts Harbor, NY by way of New York City, taking charge of such recruits as were available for Lake Ontario. McCluney was assigned to the frigate USS Superior on Lake Ontario. He later served aboard the USS Saranac, both under the command of Lieutenant John H. Elton. Inter-war service Promoted to Lieutenant in 1818, McCluney got his first command, an old 1808 Jefferson Gunboat #158 in Charleston, S.C. He was ordered "to prepare for service…and attend to repairs." Repairs were sufficient that, a year later McCluney's gunboat was recommissioned as the schooner USS Revenge. Two years later, Lieut. McCluney became first officer on a new schooner, the USS Dolphin under the command of Lieutenant David Conner. The Dolphin's assignment was companion to the 90-gun ship-of-the-line USS Franklin, flagship of the United States' first Pacific Squadron under command of Commodore Charles Stewart. Upon completion of McCluney's tour, he was ordered to Washington as witness in the court martial of Commodore Stewart as a result of Stewart's wife's intrigues involving royalists and rebels in Chile and Peru. After nearly three years in the Pacific, McCluney became second lieutenant on the frigate USS Constellation, flagship to the West India Squadron engaged in suppressing piracy. From the summer of 1828 until fall 1830, McCluney served in the Mediterranean, first aboard the sloop USS Fairfield, then the USS Lexington. The last year of his Mediterranean tour, McCluney was first officer of the sloop USS Warren under Commander Charles W. Skinner. In 1831, McCluney was assigned command of the Franklin and later the Hudson, both serving as receiving ships for new recruits at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn. Subsequently, McCluney made Brooklyn his home. Break in service There is discontinuity in active service from the late 1830s, possibly because of health or an injury, though in 1839 he was promoted to commander. A Washington newspaper cited McCluney as an example of the Navy's "unemployed officers" in 1842. The paper reported a "disease of the knee joint" rendered him unfit for duty but that "an operation was performed…and he was cured, immediately applying for sea service." Family life Marriage During his extended leave from sea duty and with his promotion to commander McCluney became engaged to Elizabeth Shoemaker Wharton, the daughter of William Moore Wharton and Deborah Shoemaker, both of Philadelphia. On 8 Novem.... Discover the J E Cluney popular books. Find the top 100 most popular J E Cluney books.