John M. Gamble

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Lieutenant Colonel John M. Gamble (1791 - 11 September 1836) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the early 1800s.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gamble was appointed Second Lieutenant on 16 January 1809. He distinguished himself in many enterprises, including encounters with people of the Marquesas Islands during the absence of frigate Essex in 1813, and sailing a prize of Essex, with only a four-man crew and without benefit of a chart in a 17-day voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. Because of this remarkable exploit, Captain Gamble is remembered in history as the only U.S. Marine ever to command a U. S. warship.

He was breveted a Lt. Col. 3 March 1827 and died in New York City.

The destroyer USS Gamble (DD-123) was named for him and his brother, Navy Lieutenant Peter Gamble.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.