James Lawrence | |
|---|---|
 portrait by Gilbert Stuart | |
| Born | October 1, 1781 Burlington, New Jersey, US |
| Died | June 4, 1813 (aged 31) USS Chesapeake near Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Place of burial | |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1798–1813 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
James Lawrence (October 1, 1781 – June 4, 1813) was an officer of the United States Navy. During the War of 1812, he commanded USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon, commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, "Don't give up the ship!", uttered during the capture of the Chesapeake. The quotation is still a popular naval battle cry, and was invoked in Oliver Hazard Perry's personal battle flag, adopted to commemorate his dead friend.[1][2]
- ^ "Famous Navy Quotations". Naval History and Heritage Command. August 19, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Dudley, William S., ed. (1992). The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History. Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. p. 559.