This book is a biography of Commodore William Bainbridge, one of the most important naval commanders in the early years of the United States. The author traces Bainbridge's career from his early years as a naval officer to his service in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Along the way, readers will gain a deeper appreciation for Bainbridge's leadership skills, his bravery in battle, and his contributions to the development of the U.S. Navy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.