On the establishment of an American navy he was appointed to the _Delaware_, sloop of war. This was after he had commanded one or two merchant vessels and had proved himself a seaman. When the frigate _Philadelphia_ was built by subscriptions of loyal-hearted merchants, the command of her was tendered to the elder Decatur by the particular request of the subscribers. The value of inheritance could not be shown more strongly than by looking at the career of the son born to him on the 5th of January, 1779. At the time of the birth of Stephen Decatur, Jr., his parents were residing on the eastern shore of Maryland during the days the British were in possession of the town of Philadelphia. After the evacuation of that place they returned, and here their son was educated with the idea of making a sailor of him from the very first. Young Decatur entered the navy in March, 1798, and joined the frigate _United States_, commanded by Commodore John Barry, who, by-the-way, was instrumental in securing the appointment for him. It was not long before he was promoted to be a lieutenant, and made a cruise on the Spanish Main on the brig _Norfolk_ during the war against the French cruisers. Returning after the peace was concluded with France, he was ordered to the _Essex_ as first lieutenant, and sailed with Commodore Dale’s squadron to the Mediterranean. This trip he made twice more, for on the return of that squadron he was ordered to the _New York_ under Commodore Morris, who took the same station. After a short stay Decatur returned to the _United States_, and soon afterwards he was given his first command, the brig _Argus_, and with her proceeded to join Commodore Preble’s squadron, and was transferred to the command of the schooner _Enterprise_, exchanging vessels with Lieutenant Isaac Hull. The story of the capture and blowing up of the frigate _Philadelphia_, which under Captain Bainbridge had run ashore and been taken by the Tripolitans, has been described times without number. There is not space to write about it here. It is a tale in itself. But after the success of Decatur’s attempt, in which he overcame obstacles apparently insurmountable, the eyes of the country were turned upon him, and the great things that he afterwards accomplished were predicted.