William Wiley
Encyclopedia
William Wiley was a sailor of the United States Navy
in the 19th century who served in the First Barbary War
.
Besides a few details of his service in the Navy, little is known of the life of William Wiley. He entered the Navy on 2 April 1803 and was assigned to the schooner
Enterprise
in the Mediterranean Squadron. After attaining the rates of boatswain
, boatswain's mate, and then a reduction to quartermaster
, Wiley took part in the daring raid led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., in the ketch
Intrepid
at Tripoli
harbor on 16 February 1804, destroying the frigate
Philadelphia
in the engagement. Quartermaster Wiley was transferred to the brig
Scourge
soon thereafter, and this is where his documentary trail ends.
(DD-597), (1944–1968), was named in his honor.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the 19th century who served in the First Barbary War
First Barbary War
The First Barbary War , also known as the Barbary Coast War or the Tripolitan War, was the first of two wars fought between the United States and the North African Berber Muslim states known collectively as the Barbary States...
.
Besides a few details of his service in the Navy, little is known of the life of William Wiley. He entered the Navy on 2 April 1803 and was assigned to the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Enterprise
USS Enterprise (1799)
The third USS Enterprise, a schooner, was built by Henry Spencer at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1799, and placed under the command of Lieutenant John Shaw...
in the Mediterranean Squadron. After attaining the rates of boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
, boatswain's mate, and then a reduction to quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
, Wiley took part in the daring raid led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., in the ketch
Ketch
A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder post. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward...
Intrepid
USS Intrepid (1798)
The first USS Intrepid was a captured ketch in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War.Intrepid was built in France in 1798 for Napoleon's Egyptian expedition. She was subsequently sold to Tripoli, whom she served as Mastico...
at Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
harbor on 16 February 1804, destroying the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Philadelphia
USS Philadelphia (1799)
The second USS Philadelphia was a 1240-ton, 36-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy.Originally named City of Philadelphia, she was built in 1798–1799 for the United States government by the citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Funding for her construction was the result of a...
in the engagement. Quartermaster Wiley was transferred to the brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
Scourge
USS Scourge (1804)
USS Scourge was the former British privateer, Transfer, which had been sold to Tripoli at Malta. As a Tripolitan ship, she had been used in blockade running during the Barbary Wars of North Africa. She was captured off Tripoli, on 21 March 1804 by , commanded by Lieutenant Charles Stewart...
soon thereafter, and this is where his documentary trail ends.
Namesake
The destroyer USS WileyUSS Wiley (DD-597)
USS Wiley , a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for William Wiley, a sailor of the Navy in the 19th century who served in the First Barbary War...
(DD-597), (1944–1968), was named in his honor.