History of New Castle, (New Castle County) Delaware United States of America

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Biographies:

Clayton Johns, composer, was born at New Castle, Del., Nov. 24, 1857; son of James McCal-mont and Eliza (Hopkins) Johns; and grandson of Chancellor Kensey and Maria (Mc-Calmont) Johns, and of James and Eliza (Jacquet) Hopkins. He was educated in public and private schools at New Castle, at Rugby academy, Wilmington, Del., and was a special student at Harvard college, 1879-81. He studied music in Berlin, 1882-84, and on his return settled in Boston, Mass., as a pianist, composer and teacher. He spent much time in London, England, where his compositions became popular. He composed over one hundred songs, several pieces for piano, piano and violin, short choral works and two movements for string orchestra.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Clayton, senator, was born in Newcastle, Del., March 9, 1778; son of Dr. Joshua and Rachel (McCleary) Clayton; grandson of James Clayton; great-grandson of John Clayton; and great-great grandson of Joshua Clayton, who came to America with William Penn. His father, Dr. Joshua Clayton, was president of Delaware, 1789-93; governor, 1793-96; and in 1798 was chosen U.S. senator, but died Aug. 11, 1798, before taking his seat. Thomas Clayton was admitted to the bar and practised at Newcastle, Del. In 1814 he was elected a representative in the 14th congress, and subsequently represented his district in the state legislature. In December, 1823, he entered the 18th U.S. congress as senator, to fill the unexpired term of C. A. Rodney, resigned, and served until March 3, 1827. He was chosen chief justice of the court of common pleas, and on Jan. 19, 1837, was elected U.S. senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his cousin, John Middleton Clayton. He served in the senate until the close of the 29th congress, March 3, 1847. He was afterward chief justice of the Delaware supreme court. He died in Newcastle, Del., Aug. 21, 1854.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Kensey Johns, representative, was born in New Castle, Del., Dec. 10, 1791; son of Chancellor Kensey and Ann (Van Dyke) Johns. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1810; studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar in 1813. He was the representative from Delaware in the 20th and 21st congresses, 1827-31, and was appointed chancellor of the state as successor to his father, serving 1832-57. He was married to Maria McCalmont. Jefferson college, Pa., conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1846. He died in New Castle, Del., March 28, 1857.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Macdonough, naval officer, was born in New Castle, Del., Dec. 23, 1783; son of Dr. Thomas Macdonough, an eminent physician. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman in 1800 and was attached to the frigate Philadelphia in August, 1803, when she captured the Moorish frigate Meshoda off Cape de Gatt. He was left at Gibraltar with the prize, thus escaping the long imprisonment suffered by the officers and crew of the Philadelphia. He served on board the Enterprise under Commodore Decatur, and in the attack on Tripoli in 1804; and was a member of the party that re-captured and burned the Philadelphia, Feb. 16, 1804. He was promoted lieutenant in 1807; master commandant in 1813, and was appointed to the command of the naval forces in Plattsburg bay, Lake Champlain. On Sunday, Sept. 11, 1814, the British fleet, under Commodore Thomas Downie, sailed up the lake and took position opposite Commodore Macdonough's fleet, which at once opened fire, Macdonough, with his own hand, firing the first heavy shot from his flagship, the Saratoga, across the bow of the British flagship. The fire was not returned by Downie until the Confidence had anchored 300 yards from the Saratoga, when the broadside came from guns double shorted and aimed directly at the portholes of the Saratoga. It did fearful damage and half the men on deck fell. This led to a general engagement, and a shot from the Saratoga killed Commodore Downie. The entire exposed battery of the Sarotoga was disabled, and the British brig Linnet gained a position that enabled her to rake the Saratoga. This position obliged Commodore Macdonough to wind his ship, an emergency that he had provided for by kedging, and to the astonishment of the British fleet the Saratoga swung around until her bow pointed to the south, which brought her port broadside into play. The Confidence, in her attempt to execute the same manc?uvre, was caught when half warped, and thus exposed to the Saratoga's fire was obliged to strike her colors. The action lasted for two hours and twenty minutes without intermission, the opposing forces being equally matched in numbers of men and weight of metal. Commodore Macdonough served his favorite gun throughout the engagement and was injured by the falling of a spar. The British loss was 200 officers and men and the American 112, killed and wounded. This victory saved New York from invasion and once more turned the fortunes of war in favor of the United States. For his services in this engagement Macdonough was promoted captain and received a gold medal from congress and civic honors from various towns and cities. The state of Vermont presented him with an estate at Cumberland Head overlooking the scene of the engagement. He was subsequently in command of the Mediterranean squadron, and he died on board a trading ship which had been sent by the U.S. government to bring him home. His wife, a Miss Shaler, died in the spring of 1825. The date of his death is Nov. 16, 1825.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor