Voting Station

Oliver Hazard Perry

Please vote to return to collections.

Military Personnel

The Resume

    (August 2, 1785-August 23, 1819)
    Born in South Kingston, Rhode Island
    US naval officer
    During the War of 1812, defeated a British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie (September 10, 1813)
    Reported the victory with the statement 'We have met the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop'
    Died from yellow fever contracted during a diplomatic voyage to Venezuela
    Brother of Commodore Matthew Perry

Why he might be annoying:

    His ship, the Revenge, struck a reef and sunk (1810).
    After the War of 1812, he feuded with Jesse Elliott who had captained the Niagra during the Battle of Lake Erie.
    He was reprimanded for slapping a Marine officer (1815).
    His most famous quote was parodied in Pogo's 'We have met the enemy and he is us.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    A court martial cleared him of any wrongdoing in the sinking of the Revenge.
    During the Battle of Lake Erie, after his flagship the Lawrence was disabled by enemy fire, he rowed through heavy gunfire to the largely undamaged Niagra, took command from Jesse Elliott, and used the ship to break the British line.
    The victory at Lake Erie assured American naval superiority on the Great Lakes and security from invasion from Canada.
    He was the namesake for a class of US Navy frigates.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 21 Votes: 19.05% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 73 Votes: 49.32% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 90 Votes: 67.78% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying