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The Somers Affair was an incident involving the American brig USS Somers during a training mission in 1842 under Captain Alexander Slidell Mackenzie (1803-1848). Midshipman Philip Spencer (1823-1842) was accused of plotting to overthrow Mackenzie and use the Somers for piracy. Spencer was arrested and executed, along with two other alleged co-conspirators, Samuel Cromwell and Elisha Small, when the ship was just thirteen days away from shore. The three were hanged without a court-martial after the ship's officers agreed with Mackenzie's judgment. The Somers then returned to New York. An official inquiry and a court martial both cleared Mackenzie. There was enormous public attention, most of it unfavorable to Mackenzie, but he remained in the Navy until his death.[1][2]
The case is particularly notable since Philip Spencer was the son of Secretary of War John C. Spencer.