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John M. Gamble
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Brevet Lieutenant Colonel John Marshall Gamble (1791 –
Current events John M. Gamble
11 September 1836) was an officer in the United States
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Marine Corps during the early 19th century. He was the first,
Contact us and remains the only known, U.S. Marine to command a
Donate U.S. Navy ship, commanding the prize ships Greenwich and
Sir Andrew Hammond during naval actions in the Pacific
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during the War of 1812.[1][2]
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1 Biography
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2 Dates of rank
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3 Namesake
Tools 4 Galleries and Public Collections
What links here 5 See also
Related changes 6 Footnotes
Born 1791
Special pages 7 Notes
Brooklyn, New York
Permanent link
8 References
Page information Died 11 September 1836 (aged 44–45)
9 Further reading New York City
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Wikidata item Allegiance United States of America
Print/export Biography [edit]
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1809-1836
Download as PDF Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gamble was commissioned a Rank Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
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second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 16 January 1809 Unit USS Essex
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at the age of 17. Commands held Greenwich
Polski Stationed in the South Sea in the Marine Detachment aboard Sir Andrew Hammond
Edit links Fort Madison
the frigate USS Essex during the War of 1812, he rose to the
Battles/wars War of 1812
rank of captain by June 1814.[3] He distinguished himself in
Action off Charles Island
many enterprises, including encounters with people of the
Nuku Hiva Campaign
Marquesas Islands during the absence of USS Essex in
Seringapatam Mutiny
1813, and sailing a prize of Essex, the former whaler Sir Action of 9 May 1814
Andrew Hammond, with only a four-man crew and without
Other work Artist
benefit of a chart in a 17-day voyage to the Hawaiian
Islands.
Lieutenant Colonel Gamble is chiefly remembered in history as the only U.S. Marine to command a U.S. Navy
ship, commanding two separate prize ships, the USS Greenwich and USS Sir Andrew Hammond, during the War
of 1812: "...and, for want of sea officers, I placed Lieutenant Gamble of the Marines in charge of the
Greenwich."[4]
On or about 13 July 1813, [Note 1] while commanding the Greenwich, Lieutenant Gamble's capture of the British
armed whaler Seringapatam after a sharp engagement was noted as a triumph by American newspapers and
thus earned him considerable fame upon his return. Seringapatam was deemed the biggest British threat to
American whalers in the South Pacific at the time.[4]
On 14 July 1813, Commodore Porter wrote of Lieutenant Gamble:
"Allow me to return to you my thanks for your handsome conduct in bringing the Seringapatam to action, which
greatly facilitated her capture, while it prevented the possibility of her escape. Be assured, sir, I shall make a
suitable representation of the affair to the honorable Secretary of the Navy."[4]
Later, Commodore Porter wrote a further communication to the Navy Department:
"Captain Gamble at all times greatly distinguished himself by his activity in every enterprise engaged in by the
force under my command, and in many critical encounters by the natives of Madison Island, rendered essential
services, and at all times distinguished himself by his coolness and bravery. I therefore do, with pleasure,
recommend him to the Department as an officer deserving of its patronage."[4]
And again he wrote:
"I now avail myself of the opportunity of assuring you that no Marine officer in the service ever had such strong
claims as Captain Gamble, and that none have been placed in such conspicuous and critical situations, and that
none could have extricated themselves from them more to their honor." [4]
Porter's later decision to burn the Greenwich at Nuku Hiva also served to deprive the British of the valuable
whale oil, then badly needed in England.[4] However, during the Nuku Hiva Campaign, Lieutenant Gamble was
again ordered by Commodore Porter to assume command of a prize ship, the Sir Andrew Hammond, and after
the Seringapatam Mutiny, where the British prisoners successfully regained control over the Seringapatam and
sailed to Australia, Gamble set out to sail the Sir Andrew Hammond with a skeleton crew to the Leeward Islands,
but was intercepted en route.
Gamble's subsequent capture by the British sloop HMS Cherub, also served to protect the American whaling
efforts in the region. Aboard Sir Andrew Hammond, Gamble was carrying gifts to be delivered as a tribute to the
King of the Leeward Islands.[Note 2] When these were taken by Captain Tucker of the Cherub as prizes of war, the
diplomatic relations between the British and King of the Leeward Islands deteriorated.[4]
When American whalers were seen in the harbor, Captain Tucker demanded the native king turn both whalers
and the stockpiled whale oil over to him. Tucker went so far as to threaten the King by landing his Royal Marines
to change the King's mind. The good king firmly said, "No." Tucker decided that a sloop's small complement of
Marines and available firepower would be insufficient to force the issue, and thus sailed away.[4]
While promoted to his substantial majority only in July 1834—a full 21 years after his most famous action with the
Seringapatam—Gamble was breveted a lieutenant colonel on 3 March 1827, which rank he held until his death. [3]
He died in New York City on 11 September 1836.
Dates of rank [edit]
Second Lieutenant - 16 January 1809
First Lieutenant - 5 March 1811
Captain - 18 June 1814
Brevet Major - 19 April 1816
Major - 1 July 1834
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel - 3 March 1827
Namesake [edit]
The destroyer USS Gamble (DD-123) was named for him and his brother, United States Navy Lieutenant Peter
Gamble, as was ostensibly Port Gamble, Washington.
Galleries and Public Collections [edit]
John Gamble Gallery of Art – Laguna Beach, California
See also [edit]
Action off Charles Island Biography
Nuku Hiva Campaign portal
Footnotes [edit]
Notes
1. ^ Lieutenant Gamble's own memoirs recalled the actions on 12 July 1813, but Captain Porter's letters instead
recalled 13 July 1813.
2. ^ The Hawaiian Islands.
Notes [edit]
1. ^ "The Month of July in American Naval History" . U.S. Fleet Forces, United States Navy. Archived from the
original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009. "July 14, 1813 – LT John M. Gamble, the first marine to
command a ship in battle (prize vessel Greenwich in capture of British whaler Seringapatam)"
2. ^ Gibowicz, Charles J. (2007). The Traditions: Marine Corps Mess Night Tradition . Mess Night Traditions.
AuthorHouse. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-4259-8446-5. Retrieved 11 May 2009. "...one U.S. Marine is on record as having
a command not since duplicated....On 30 March 1813, Lt. John M. Gamble, USMC, assumed command of the USS
Greenwich, the only Marine ever to command a U.S. Navy ship. "
3. ^ a b "Marine Corps Officers of the War of 1812" . Wars and Conflicts of the United States Navy . Naval History &
Heritage Command, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 10 May
2009.
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4. ^ Gamble, John M. (1 January 1828). The memorial of Lieut. Colonel J.M. Gamble, of the United
States' Marine Corps, to Congress, 1828 . printed by Geo. F. Hopkins & Son.
References [edit]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
"Gamble" . Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History & Heritage Command , Department of
the Navy.
Chapter Semper Fidelis, "Gamble of the Marines" by Capt. Raymond Toner USN.
Further reading [edit]
Gamble, John M. (1828). The memorial of Lieut. Colonel J.M. Gamble, of the United States' Marine Corps, to
Congress, 1828 . New York: Geo. F. Hopkins & Son. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
Toner, Raymond J. (2007). Martin, Iain C. (ed.). Gamble of the Marines . The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps
Stories Ever Told. Globe Pequot. pp. 13–20 . ISBN 978-1-59921-017-9.
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This page was last edited on 9 March 2021, at 05:05 (UTC).
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