This historical essay provides an in-depth analysis of the life and career of Stephen Decatur, one of the most important American naval figures of the early 19th century. Smith focuses on Decatur's role in the suppression of piracy in the Mediterranean and evaluates the impact of his actions on American diplomacy and international relations. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, Smith offers a nuanced and insightful portrait of a complex and charismatic figure in American history. 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.