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Silas M. Duncan (178814 September 1834) was an officer in the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
during the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
. Born in
Rockaway Township, New Jersey Rockaway Township is a Township (New Jersey), township in Morris County, New Jersey, Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 25,341, an increase of 1,185 (+4.9%) from th ...
, Duncan was appointed
midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest Military rank#Subordinate/student officer, rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Royal Cana ...
15 November 1809. While third lieutenant of ''Saratoga'' during the Battle of Lake Champlain, 11 September 1814, he was sent in a gig to order the
gunboat A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies. History Pre-steam ...
s to retire. He succeeded in delivering the orders despite concentrated enemy fire which severely wounded him and caused the loss of his right arm. For his gallant conduct he was thanked by
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
. From 1818 to 1824 Commander Duncan saw active service on board ''Independence'', ''Hornet'', ''Guerriere'', , and ''Ferret''. On February 3, 1831, he married Martha Dandridge Aylett, granddaughter of American patriot
Patrick Henry Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 ld Style and New Style dates, O.S. May 18, 1736une 6, 1799) was an American politician, planter and orator who declared to the Virginia Conventions, Second Virginia Convention (1775): "Give me liberty or give m ...
, third-youngest of six daughters from among the 13 children of Philip Aylett, of King William County, Virginia. In 1831, he commanded the ''Lexington'', which had been sent to reinforce the Brazil Squadron to protect American commerce, in part a response to Argentine proclamations on sealing and fishing in the South Atlantic. In July 1831, under orders from Luis Vernet (appointed Military and Civil Commander in the
Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; ), commonly referred to as The Falklands, is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and from Cape Dub ...
by
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
), his deputy Matthew Brisbane seized the American vessels ''Superior'', ''Breakwater'' and ''Harriet'', charging them with sealing in the
Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; ), commonly referred to as The Falklands, is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and from Cape Dub ...
in contravention of Vernet's regulations. Cawkell, 2001, pp. 55–56. The ''Breakwater'' escaped and the ''Superior'' was allowed to continue sealing on Vernet's terms. Vernet returned in the ''Harriet'' to Buenos Aires to arrange for a trial. After this seizure of American vessels the ''Lexington'' sailed for
Port Louis Port Louis (, ; or , ) is the capital and most populous city of Mauritius, mainly located in the Port Louis District, with a small western part in the Black River District. Port Louis is the country's financial and political centre. It is admi ...
to put an end to what was regarded by the US as a "nest of pirates". On 31 December 1831, the ''Lexington'' came to anchor off Port Louis, Brisbane and six others were arrested on charges of piracy, the guns of the settlement spiked and the powder magazine blown. Duncan also offered passage to any from the settlement that wished to leave, and the majority of the population took up this opportunity to leave the islands. The ''Lexington'' arrived in
Montevideo Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
on 3 February 1832, where those given passage were released, but Brisbane and six others remained as prisoners until 16 April, when they were transferred to the USS ''Warren''. Gurney, 2008, p. 117. Brisbane and the others were later released on the orders of Commodore Rodgers after the intervention of the British Chargé d'Affaires in Buenos Aires. The incident caused a rupture in Argentine-US relations for many years, after Argentina expelled the US representative during the diplomatic row that followed. Although the log of the ''Lexington'' reports destruction of arms and a powder store, the remaining settlers later testified that there was great damage to private property.FitzRoy, R. 1839
Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle. Proceedings of the second expedition, 1831-36. Chapter XVIII.
/ref> Towards the end of his life, Luis Vernet authorised his sons to claim on his behalf for his losses stemming from the raid. In the case lodged against the US Government for compensation, rejected by the US Government of President Cleveland in 1885, Vernet claimed that the settlement was destroyed. On 7 December 1832, the ARA ''Sarandí'' whilst on patrol around the Falkland Islands, encountered the American sealer ''The Sun'' under the command of T.P.Trott. After firing on ''The Sun'' and boarding her, the captain was ordered to quit the Falklands. Trott returned to
Montevideo Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
and addressed the American legation there seeking protection from an American warship. In Montevideo, Trott was instructed to return to the islands and to ignore the warning, whilst the USS ''Lexington'' was prepared to return to the islands and if necessary seize the ''Sarandí''. This second exhibition never took place, since during preparations the ''Sarandí'' was observed returning to Buenos Aires following the reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. He died in 1834 at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. Three ships have been named USS ''Duncan'' for him.


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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Silas 1788 births 1834 deaths United States Navy officers United States Navy personnel of the War of 1812 People from Rockaway Township, New Jersey Military personnel from Morris County, New Jersey