William Sitgreaves Cox
William Sitgreaves Cox was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on January 20th, 1790 and is the Court-martialed During The War Of 1812. At the age of 84, William Sitgreaves Cox biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
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He joined the United States Navy in January 1809, with the rank of midshipman and was assigned to the President. Shortly thereafter he went on furlough in the East Indies, returning in 1811 with an assignment to the Argus. After the War of 1812 began, he and his commanding officer were assigned to the Hornet; when they transferred to the USS Chesapeake in 1813, Cox was named acting lieutenant.
During the battle with HMS Shannon in June 1813, Cox served in charge of gun crews. Captain James Lawrence was wounded, and Lt. Cox took him below deck. However, all other officers had been seriously wounded or killed, so Lawrence's incapacitation left Cox, the senior non-wounded officer, the ship's commanding officer. It is unclear whether he realized that he was now the acting commanding officer. While he was below the ship was boarded. Returning from below, Cox and Midshipman Russell saw that two 18-pounder cannon, right aft on the port side, still bore on the enemy ship. Working between them, they managed to fire both. While he was working the guns there was a rush of American seamen bent on escaping the British boarders by going down the main hatch to the safety of the berth deck. Seeing this, Lt. Cox called to them, "You damned cowardly sons of bitches! What are you jumping below for?" When asked by a nearby midshipman if he should stop them by cutting a few down, Cox replied, "No sir, it is of no use." On the Chesapeake being taken by the British he was made prisoner. After being exchanged he was promoted to third lieutenant.
He was convicted in 1814 by court-martial of dereliction of duty and unofficer-like conduct for abandoning his watch station while under fire. He was discharged from the Navy in disgrace.