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Medal Name: Action with the Vengeance
Struck for: Captain Thomas Truxtun
Approval: Act of Congress March 29, 1800
OBVERSE
PATRIÆ. PATRES. FILIO. DIGNO. THOMAS TRUXTUN. (The fathers of the country to their worthy son,Thomas Truxtun.)
Bust of Captain Truxtun, in uniform, facing the left.
REVERSE
UNITED STATES FRIGATE CONSTELLATION OF 38 GUNS PURSUES ATTACKS AND VANQUISHES THE FRENCH SHIP LA VENGEANCE OF 54 GUNS 1 FEBy. (February) 1800. Naval action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, Captain Truxtun, and the French frigate La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, Captain Pitot.
The Constellation has lost her main mast.
Exergue:BY VOTE OF CONGRESS, TO THOMAS TRUXTUN 29 MAR. (March) 1800.
BACKGROUND
Thomas Truxton was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, February 15, 1755. He served as lieutenant and captain of privateers during the War of Independence. In 1782, while engaged in carrying Mr. Thomas Barclay, United States consul-general, to France, he beat off a British frigate of thirty-two guns. After the war he commanded East India men, but in 1794, on the creation of the American Navy, he received a commission as captain, and was appointed to the Constellation, of thirty-eight guns. In 1799, he captured l'Insurgente, a French frigate of thirty-six guns, Captain Barreault. His celebrated engagement with La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns,Captain Pitot, took place February 2, 1800, and for this exploit Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He afterward commanded the President, of forty-four guns. In 1802, Mr. Smith, secretary of the Navy under President Jefferson, having interpreted as a resignation Truxtun's refusal to accept the command of the Mediterranean squadron, unless a flag captain was given him, the country was deprived of this gallant officer's services. He retired to New Jersey, and afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he was high-sheriff of the city and county from 1816 to 1819, and where he died, May 5, 1822.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Medal to Captain Truxtun, etc.
Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Thomas Truxtun a golden medal, emblematical of the late action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eightguns, and the French ship of war La Vengeance, of fifty-four, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in the above engagement, wherein an example was exhibited bythe Captain, officers, sailors, and marines, honourable to the American name, and instructive to its rising navy.
Resolved: That the conduct of James Jarvis, a midshipman in said frigate, who gloriously preferred certain death to an abandonment of his post, is deserving of the highest praise, and that the loss of so promising an officer is a subject of national regret.
Approved March 29, 1800.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)