The Tragic Career of Commodore James Barron US Navy by Paul Barron Watson 1942. Good condition — see all photos. This is not one of the many reprints issued later. This is the actual 1. With rare dust jacket. This has been deemed a culturally and historically important book. First Edition, First printing. Paul Barron Watson, author, born in Morristown, New Jersey, 25 March, 1861. He was graduated at Harvard in 1881, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1885, and practiced in Boston. He has published a “Bibliography of the Pre-Columbian Discoveries of America” in the ” Library Journal” (1881), which was reprinted in Rasmus B. Anderson’s ” America not Discovered by Columbus” (Chicago, 1884), and is the author of a ” Life of Marcus Aurelius ” Commodore Barron commanded the largest American naval squadron in 1807. James Barron was an officer in the United States Navy. Fired upon by a British frigate, he was forced to surrender, an incident which inflamed American public opinion. Although war was averted, the incident brought Barron’s at sea naval activity to a close. As commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake, he was court-martialed for his actions. After criticism from some fellow officers, the resulting controversy led Barron to a duel with Stephen Decatur, one of the officers who presided over his court-martial. Suspended from command, he pursued commercial interests in Europe during the War of 1812. Barron finished his naval career on shore duty, becoming the Navy’s senior officer in 1839.