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Medal Name: Capture of the Cyane and of the Levant
Struck for: Captain Charles Stewart
Approval: Act of Congress February 22, 1816
OBVERSE
CAROLUS STEWART NAVIS AMER. (Americanæ) CONSTITUTION DUX. (Charles Stewart, captain ofthe American vessel Constitution.)
Bust of Captain Stewart, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
UNA VICTORIAM ERIPUIT RATIBUS BINIS. (He snatched victory from two vessels with one.)
Naval action between the United States frigate Constitution, of fifty-two guns, Captain Stewart, and the British frigate Cyane, of thirty-four guns, Captain Falcon, and the sloop-of-war Levant, of twenty-one guns, Captain the Honorable George Douglas.
The Constitution, to windward, is opening with her port battery on the Levant;
Both British vessels are returning the fire from their starboard batteries.
Exergue: INTERCONSTITU. NAV. AMERI. ET LEVANT ET CYANE NAV. ANG. DIE XX. FEBR. MDCCCXV. (InterConstitution navem Americanam et Levant et Cyane naves Anglicanas, die 20 Februarii, 1815: Between the American vessel Constitution and the English vessels Levant and Cyane, on the 20th of February, 1815.)
BACKGROUND
Charles Stewart was born in Philadelphia, July 18, 1778. He began life in the merchant service, but entered the navy as lieutenant, March 13, 1798. He served in the West Indies, and afterward in the Tripolitan campaign, commanding the Siren. He escorted the Intrepid to Tripoli when Decatur blew up the Philadelphia, and was promoted to the rank of master-commandant, May 19, 1804, and of captain, April 22, 1806. While in command of the frigate Constitution he fought and captured, February 20, 1815, the two British ships-of-war, Cyane, Captain Gordon Falcon, and Levant, Captain the Honorable George Douglas, for which brilliant action he received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He commanded in the Mediterranean from 1816 to 1820; in the Pacific from 1821 to 1823; was member of the Naval Board from 1830 to 1833; commanded the navy yard at Philadelphia,1837; and was put on the retired list in 1857; but was replaced on the active list as senior flag officer, 1859, and was appointed rear-admiral on the retired list, 1862. He died at Bordentown, New Jersey, November 7, 1869.
Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Stewart, etc.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby requested, to present to Captain Charles Stewart, of the frigate Constitution, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal, with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said frigate, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct and services of Captain Stewart, his officers and crew, in the capture of the British vessels of war, the Cyane and Levant, after a brave and skilful combat.
Approved February 22, 1816.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)