Allen, William Henry

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | 639 words | Copyright

Allen, William Henry (1784–1813) naval officer born in Providence, Rhode Island. In January 1807 Allen was ordered to the frigate Chesapeake as third lieutenant. Among the sailors recruited for the Chesapeake were several deserters from the British navy. As the unprepared Chesapeake left Norfolk, the frigate was attacked by the HMS Leopard, a much more powerful ship, which was determined to take the deserters away by force. After three destructive broadsides the Chesapeake surrendered. The only shot fired by the Chesapeake in return was fired by Allen, who took a live coal from the galley to touch off a gun in his division.

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