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Portraiture

Contents

Introduction: The Barbary Wars

Barbary Wars Timeline

Background to the Conflict

Early American Interactions with Barbary States

The First Barbary War: The Tripolitan War

Between the Wars

The Second Barbary War: The Algerine War

Aftermath: America's Presence in the Mediterranean

Barbary Captivity Narratives

Images of the Barbary Wars

Further Reading and Resources

Among the Clements Library’s tremendous collection of portraiture engravings are images of many important American military and political leaders involved the Barbary Wars. 

William Bainbridge (1774-1833)

Captain of the Philadelphia, who was a captive of the Bashaw of Tripoli from 1803 to 1806, and commander of the second U.S. squadron in the 2nd Barbary War

Isaac Chauncey (1779-1840)

Naval officer in the 1st Barbary War and commander of the Mediterranean Squadron from 1816-1820

Richard Dale (1756-1826)

Captained the President, commanded the blockade of Tripoli (1801), and patrolled the Mediterranean during the 1st Barbary War

Stephen Decatur (1779-1820)

Naval hero of both the 1st and 2nd Barbary Wars and leader of the mission to destroy the Philadelphia (1804)

Albert Gallatin (1761-1849)

Secretary of the Treasury from 1801 to 1813

Captain Isaac Hull (1773-1843)

Commander of the Enterprise and the Argus during the 1st Barbary War, and as Board of Navy Commissioners in Washington, D.C. during the 2nd Barbary War

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Third President of the United States and supporter of naval action against the Barbary States

Tobias Lear (1762-1816)

Appointed by President Jefferson to consul general to the North African coast (1803), negotiator of the Treaty of Tripoli (1805), and consul to Algiers (1805-1812)

James Madison (1751-1836)

Secretary of State under Jefferson, Fourth President of the United States, and supporter of both Barbary Wars

Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819)

Commanded the Nautilus during the capture of Derna (1805) and patrolled the Mediterranean in the Java during after the 2nd Barbary War (1816-1817)

Timothy Pickering (1745-1829)

Secretary of State between 1795 and 1800 who made decisions on tribute payments to the Barbary States

David Porter (1780-1843)

First lieutenant of the Philadelphia when it was captured in the port of Tripoli (1803), released (1805) captain of the Constitution for a few years after the 1st Barbary War, and served as minister to Algiers (1829-1831)

Edward Preble (1761-1807)

Commander of the American Navy during the 1st Barbary war (1800-1805), and helped plan the burning of the Philadelphia

John Rodgers (1772-1838)

Captain of the John Adams during the 1st Barbary War, Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron (1805-1806), and head of the Board of Navy Commissioners (1815-1838)

Unidentified “Bey of Tunis”

Few contemporary portraits of Barbary leaders exist. The Norton-Strange-Townshend Collection, however, contains an early 19th century snuff box with a portrait of an unidentified Barbary leader.

William Bainbridge (1774-1833):

Captain of the Philadelphia, who was a captive of the Bashaw of Tripoli from 1803 to 1806, and commander of the second U.S. squadron in the 2nd Barbary War.