Daniel Patterson

Daniel Todd Patterson (March 6, 1786 – August 25, 1839) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War, and the War of 1812. Early life Patterson was born on Long Island, New York. He was a son of John Patterson and Catherine ( Livingston) Patterson (1744–1832). His father was a younger brother of Walter Patterson, who was the first Royal Governor of Prince Edward Island (then named St. John's Island). John and Walter came to America in the 1750s from Ramelton or Rathmullan, County Donegal, Ireland, and served in the British Army in the French and Indian War. His paternal grandfather was Robert Livingston, 3rd Lord of the Livingston Manor. His maternal aunt, Mary Livingston, was the wife of James Duane, a respected lawyer, patriot, New York politician, and judge. Career As acting midshipman, he joined the sloop of war , June 11, 1799, to cruise against French privateers and warships in the West Indies to August 1800. Appointed a midshipman on August 20, 1800 (warrant subsequently altered to take rank from date of his original entry, June 11, 1799). After the war, was one of the midshipmen retained in the Navy under the Peace Establishment Act, signed by President Adams in one of his last official acts, on March 3, 1801. On close of the Quasi-War with France, he resumed nautical studies, then had blockade duty off Tripoli in and . On October 13, 1803, he fell prisoner upon capture of Philadelphia, commanded by William Bainbridge, when the vessel ran aground on an uncharted reef off the coast of Tripoli, and remained a captive of the Barbary pirates until the American victory over Tripoli in 1805.