Rank Sergeant Battles/wars First Barbary War | Name Jonathan Meredith | |
Died August 7, 1805 (aged 32–33)
Tripoli Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Marine Corps | ||
What Matters–And What Doesn't–in the Modern Era of U.S. Immigration
Jonathan Meredith (about 1772 – August 7, 1805) was a United States Marine during the First Barbary War.
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Biography
Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Meredith enlisted in the Marine Corps June 6, 1803 and was promoted to Sergeant August 1, of the same year.
During an engagement in the harbor of Tripoli August 3, 1805, Sergeant Meredith saved the life of Lieutenant John Trippe of USS Vixen, who with a party of nine men had boarded a Tripolitan ship. Heavily outnumbered, the boarding party fought a fierce hand-to-hand combat, in which Trippe was severely wounded; Meredith protected him from what would have been the final blow. Four days later Meredith was killed in the explosion of Gunboat No. 3 during a similar attack against the Tripolitans.
Namesakes
See USS Meredith for ships that have been named in his honor.