Presley O'Bannon
Presley Neville O'Bannon (* 1776 in Fauquier County , Virginia , † September 12, 1850 in Franklin County , Kentucky ) was an officer in the US Marine Corps (USMC) and was best known for his actions in the First Barbarian War .
O'Bannon joined the U.S. Marine Corps on January 18, 1801. As First Lieutenant , he commanded a unit of the Marines in the small force under General William Eaton in the war against Tripoli (now Libya ). During the joint operation with the US Navy , he led the successful attack in the Battle of Derna (April 27, 1805), from which the line of the USMC's anthem to the shores of Tripoli was born. Impressed by O'Bannon's courage in battle, the leader of the Muslim allegiance, Hamet Karamanli, gave him his sword .
Since then, every officer at the USMC has received such a Mameluke sword with his officer's license .
After his retirement on March 6, 1807, O'Bannon lived in Kentucky, where he died on September 12, 1850.
In his honor, three US Navy ships were named after him.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | O'Bannon, Presley |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | O'Bannon, Presley Neville |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | US Marine Corps officer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1776 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Fauquier County , Virginia |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 12, 1850 |
| Place of death | Franklin County , Kentucky |