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Photo # NH 47915: John Mayrant

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Lieutenant John Mayrant, South Carolina Navy, (1762-1836)

John Mayrant was born in the parish of St. James Santee, South Carolina, in December 1762. During the American Revolution he resided in Charleston, S.C., and in May 1778 was appointed a Midshipman in the South Carolina Navy. After sailing in the sloop Tartar to Havana, Cuba, and from there in the French letter of marque Gustave to France, in June 1779 Mayrant became a Midshipman in the Continental Navy and Aid to John Paul Jones, who commanded the Continental Ship Bonhomme Richard. On 23 September 1779, during that ship's intense battle with HMS Serapis, he was wounded while leading a boarding party. Soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in South Carolina's Navy, Mayrant subsequently served in the frigate South Carolina and ashore at Charleston. With the coming of peace in 1783, Lieutenant Mayrant was discharged from service and thereafter pursued private affairs and civic responsibilities in his home state. Late in life he moved to Alabama and then to Tennessee, where he died in August 1836.

The U.S. Navy has named two ships in honor of John Mayrant, including: USS Mayrant (Destroyer # 31, later DD-31) of 1911-1935; and USS Mayrant (DD-402) of 1939-1948.

This page features the only view we have of John Mayrant.


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Photo #: NH 47915

John Mayrant
(1762-1836)

Who, as a Midshipman serving under John Paul Jones in Continental Ship Bonhomme Richard, led the attacking party that captured HMS Serapis on 23 September 1779.
Minature portrait, photographed circa 1927, when it was in the possession of the Simons Family of Charleston, South Carolina.

Courtesy of Mr. Aiken Simons, of the DuPont Company, 1927.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 640 x 675 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 20 November 2004