Robert Henley

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Captain Robert Henley (5 January 1783 – 7 October 1828) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812 and the Second Barbary War. He was the brother of Captain John Dandridge Henry, USN (1781-1835), who served during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812.

Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, Robert Henley was the son of Leonard and Elizabeth Dandridge Henley and the nephew of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. Appointed a midshipman 8 April 1799, Henley participated in the engagement between Constellation and La Vengeance during the Quasi-War with France 2 February 1800.

After service with Edward Preble's squadron in the Mediterranean and a cruise to the East Indies, Henley received his first command, Gunboat Number 5, at Baltimore, Maryland 9 April 1808. Henley was in command of 2 divisions of 15 gunboats which drove 3 British frigates from Hampton Roads 20 June 1813. Reporting to brig Eagle, he received the thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal for valiant conduct in the Battle of Lake Champlain 11 September 1814.

With the end of-the War of 1812, Henley filled a variety of billets before commanding Hornet against pirates in the West Indies. He captured pirate schooner Moscow off Santo Domingo 29 October 1821. After serving as commandant of the Naval Rendezvous at Norfolk 1822 to 1824, he reported for similar duty at Charleston, South Carolina.

Captain Robert Henley died at Sullivan's Island, Charleston, after a short illness 7 October 1828.

See USS Henley for ships named in his honor.

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