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- Revolutionary War privateer. U.S. Navy Commander. Consul General to Barbary. Held captive in Algiers for ten years.
The O?Brien Family
From the American Volunteer of Carlisle, for Thursday, February 19, 1824, the following notice is copied:
It is with much regret that we have to announce the death of our worthy fellow citizen, Captain Richard O?Brien, of North Middleton Township. He died at the city of Washington, on Saturday night last, at eleven o?clock. Among other public trusts confided to him was that of Consul General for the United States at Algiers. Captain Richard O?Brien was of Irish origin. His father, William O?Brien (son of Henry O?Brien), was born in the town of Mallow, County of Cork, April 28, 1728, but came to America and in 1757 married Rebecca Crane, at Roasic, in the Kennebec District, Maine and Richard was born there in 1758. His father died there November 15, 1762 and was taken and buried in his native town of Mallow, Ireland. Following his taste and talent the son became familiar with the principles and practice of navigation and his career was that of a very remarkable man. Possessing naturally a vigorous mind and ardent temperament, these were enlarged and strengthened by a series of events the most interesting and diversified. He was in succession an active and experienced seaman, an intrepid and successful adventurer in the privateering exploits of the American Revolution and a brave commander in the regular naval service of his country. In 1785, however, he was captured by the Turks and for a long time held in servitude by the Dey of Algiers. During seven years he carried the chain and ball and then the Dey relieved him of this evidence of bondage, as an expression of his gratitude, for an act of prompt kindness rendered in an emergency to the governor?s daughter. As he measurably conformed to the requirements of the Koran, as well as rendered himself useful to the Dey and his family, he was treated with increasing leniency and respect. He then wrote to Mr. Jefferson in regard to his condition and desired recognition and relief. Hence, in 1797, he was appointed by Washington Consul General to Barbary. This position he held for eight years and the merit of his public services was officially acknowledged by three successive Presidents. He was the first Consul of the United States to Barbary and the first person who there raised the American flag. In 1805 he returned to his native land and made Philadelphia his family residence. But he returned and continued his sea-faring life, in which occupation two of his sons engaged and one of them was lost at sea. In 1810 he purchased a farm from General Irvine, a short distance from Carlisle, Pennsylvania and there afterwards had his home, becoming a worthy farmer, enjoying the respect and confidence of his follow citizens and was a member of the Legislature. After a life of varied usefulness and abounding in romance, he died when in Washington City, February 14, 1824, aged sixty-six years and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery.
He married Elizabeth Maria Robinson, of Carlisle, England and married her in Naples, Italy, at the residence of her brother, who was then and there serving as English consul. By this marriage he had eight children, four sons and four daughters; four of whom were born on Turkish territory; seven lived to adult years; six of these married and most of them left issue. The Commodore?s children are now all dead and his widow died in 1858. But he has several grandchildren, &c., living in Carlisle, Philadelphia, New York, &c. His children were the following:
i. Elizabeth-Maria, married Mr. Jonathan Holmes, near Carlisle and has four children living, one of whom is married. The eldest daughter of the Commodore joined the First Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, February 10, 1821.
ii. Charlotte Robinson, married Mr. John McGinnis Jr., Carlisle and has one daughter living and married.
iii. George Africanus, seaman, married a daughter of Dr. Atlee of Philadelphia and had seven children.
iv. Gabriel Augustus, seaman and lost at sea, married Elizabeth Watketson, of New York, but left no issue.
v. Leonora, married Charles Jack Esq., of Philadelphia and are the parents of Mrs. Ives, of that city.
vi. Richard Henry, married Miss Allison, of Philadelphia and had eight children. He died at Centreville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
vii. Joseph, a young lawyer of Philadelphia, where he died, aged 21 years, but never married. A devoted Christian.
viii. Helenora, died in childhood.
After the Commodore?s death the O?Brien farm was sold to Mr. Hershey, but it is now owned by Jacob Whitman and adjoins the poor house farm.
Colonel George McFeely, of Carlisle, father of General Robert McFeely, Commissary General of the United States Army, was the executor of the O?Brien estate.
Carlisle. J.A.M.
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Richard O'Brien originally spelled his last name "O'Bryen". His father took him back to Ireland where he was reared as one of several children left in poverty after the father died shortly after returning to Ireland. Young O'Brien made his way to Richmond, Virginia where he became indentured to a sea captain who taught him navigation. He had very little education. During the Revolution, he served as a lieutenant in the Virginia State Navy and was in Command of the Virginia State Navy brig Jefferson in 1781 in the James River when British Forces attacked and burned it. He was master of the merchant ship Dauphin, out of Philadelphia, when it was seized by an Algerian corsair July 30, 1785, and he was enslaved.
Source: Dawn like Thunder: The Barbary Wars and the Birth of the U.S. Navy by Glenn Tucker page 64, pages 107-108.
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1758 - 1824 (66 years)
