Who commanded the American fleet to victory at the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie?

Oliver Hazard Perry commanded the American fleet to victory at the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie.

The decisive naval battle took place on September 10, 1813, during the War of 1812. Perry’s squadron fought a British squadron near the western basin of Lake Erie, close to Put-in-Bay in Ohio.

After his flagship, USS Lawrence, was heavily damaged, Perry transferred to USS Niagara and continued the fight. The American fleet captured the entire British squadron, giving the United States control of Lake Erie and supporting the recapture of Detroit.

Perry reported the victory with the famous message, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” He is often called “the Hero of Lake Erie.” His victory should not be confused with Thomas Macdonough’s later success on Lake Champlain in 1814.