Lieut. Comd’t. William Howard Allen

1790 – 1822

Capture of USS Argus By HMS Pelican – August 14, 1813

William Howard Allen was born in Hudson, New York on July 8, 1790. He attended school in London but returned to Hudson one year later where he was enrolled at the Hudson Academy For Boys.

Was appointed a mid-shipment in the U.S. Navy in 1808 and as a Second Lieutenant in 1811. He became a hero during the War of 1812 when he served aboard the USS Argus. On August 14, 1813, in a battle with the British sloop of war “Pelican”, he was taken prisoner and served 18 months as a prisoner of war in Ashburton, England.

Later he commanded the schooner “Alligator” , which was sent to the West Indies to destroy pirates as part of the West Indies Squadron. He was killed in action on November 9, 1822 while attacking three pirate vessels and was interred on November 11, 1822 in Matanzas, Cuba.

Years later, the Common Council of the city of Hudson requested the Navy Department to have Allen’s body returned to Hudson. On December 15, 1827, the schooner “Grampus” arrived in New York with his remains which were transported for burial in Hudson near the grave of his mother.
Note: Death notice for Allen was published in The Troy Post on December 3 and 10, 1822.