Pollard Hopewell (between 1786 and 1789 - June 1, 1813) was a midshipman in the
United States Navy during the
War of 1812. He was killed in the battle of the US frigate
''Chesapeake'' with the British frigate
''Shannon''.
He was the only child of Pollard Hopewell and his wife, Catherine Hebb, who were married on December 19, 1785. Pollard, Jr. was born sometime between 1786 and 1789. He was orphaned at an early age. His father died in 1796 and his mother died on August 5, 1799. Pollard, Jr. was left in the care of his uncle, James Hopewell.
Hopewell entered the navy as a midshipman on June 4, 1812, from
St. Mary's County, Maryland
St. Mary's County, established in 1637, is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 113,777. Its county seat is Leonardtown. The name is in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus. St. Mary's Count ...
. He reported to the
frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
''Chesapeake'' on August 21. With a new crew, Captain
James Lawrence put to sea to engage the British frigate
HMS ''Shannon'' on June 1, 1813. Despite their captain's famous cry, "Don't give up the ship", the crew was overwhelmed and the ship taken. Midshipman Hopewell was among those killed, as was Lawrence.
Namesakes
Two ships were named
USS ''Hopewell'' in his honor.
References
:
Pollard Hopewell & DD-181, DD-681
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopewell, Pollard
1780s births
1813 deaths
United States Navy officers
United States Navy personnel of the War of 1812
People from St. Mary's County, Maryland
Military personnel from Maryland
American military personnel killed in the War of 1812