William Henry Allen
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William Henry Allen (21 October 1784 – 18 August 1813) was a naval officer during the War of 1812.
Allen was born in Providence, Rhode Island and was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy on 28 April 1800. Between 1800 and 1807, he served successively in George Washington and Philadelphia. In 1807, he transferred to Chesapeake and, on 21 June, when that ship had her celebrated encounter with HMS Leopard, Allen was credited with firing the only gun discharged in her own defense by the American ship. By 1812, he was first lieutenant in United States and took part in the engagement with HMS Macedonian. At the conclusion of that capture, he was named to command the prize crew which took Macedonian into New York. In 1813, he took command of the brig Argus. On 24 August, he led his ship in the engagement with HMS Pelican during which battle he received mortal wounds. After Argus' surrender, Allen was taken to the hospital at Mill Prison where he died on 18 August 1813. Allen was buried with full military honors at Andrew's Churchyard.
See USS Allen for ships named in his honor. Allen Street in Manhattan, New York City, a two-way street forming a stretch of First Avenue below Houston Street, is named after William Henry Allen. [1]
