Action off Charles Island

Action off Charles Island
Part of War of 1812
USS Essex off Galapagos.
Date July 14, 1813 Location off Banks' Bay, Charles Island, Galapagos Archipelago, Pacific Ocean Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
David Porter	William Stavers
Strength
1 frigate 2 sloops-of-war	3 armed whaling brigs
Casualties and losses
1 sloop-of-war damaged	89 men captured, of which 48 were released on parole after the battle 3 brigs captured

The action off Charles Island was a naval battle fought during the War of 1812 in the summer of 1813 off Charles Island in the Galapagos. An American squadron of three vessels attacked three British armed whalers, and captured them. The engagement was notable for being one of the few to occur in the Pacific Ocean during the war and involved United States Marine Lieutenant John M. Gamble, the first U.S. Marine to command an American warship.^[1]