FRANKLIN WHARTON

'Franklin Wharton' (July 23, 1767 – September 1, 1818) was an American soldier, the third Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
Wharton was born into a prominent Philadelphia, Pennsylvania family. He had forsaken a successful business career to enter the United States Marine Corps and was commissioned a captain in August 1798.
Captain Wharton's first duties as a Marine officer were performed at the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia. Within a few weeks, however, he was assigned to the frigate USS ''United States'', where he served as officer in charge of the vessel's Marine Detachment until the close of the Quasi-War with France in 1801.
At age 36 and a Marine officer for only five years, he became Lieutenant Colonel and Marine Corps Commandant on March 6, 1804. He was the first Commandant to occupy the Commandant's House, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
As Commandant, Lt. Col. Wharton ordered a detachment of Marines to Georgia and Florida in 1811 to cooperate with U.S. Army troops in an attempt to subdue an Indian uprising.
Under Wharton's leadership, Marines participated in many important engagements during the War of 1812. They saw action at Annapolis, Fort McHenry, Portsmouth, Craney Island, Bladensburg and New Orleans, and fought under General Henry Dearborn on the northern frontier. At sea, they participated in virtually every important naval battle, serving aboard warships and privateers on the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, and the Pacific.
Marines fought under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry on Lake Erie and under Commodore Isaac Chauncey on Lake Ontario. Aboard the frigate USS ''Constitution'', Marines were important factors in its victorious battles against HMS ''Guerriere'', HMS ''Java'', HMS ''Levant'', and HMS ''Cyane''. Those aboard the ''Wasp'' saw action in the vessel's engagements with HMS ''Cyane'', HMS ''Reindeer'', and HMS ''Avon''. Marines serving aboard the frigate USS ''United States'' were commended for their efficiency in its fight with the HMS ''Macedonian''.
Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Wharton died in office on September 1, 1818 in New York City and was buried in New York's Old Trinity Church Yard.

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''This article includes text from the public domain Marine Corps History and Museum web site.''

External links

★ Biography of Franklin Wharton (under his ancestor Thomas Wharton Jr.