April 29, 2020
Historical Spotlight: Purser Samuel Hambleton
In 1806, Samuel Hambleton became one of the first pursers in the Navy, and in 1812 he was assigned aboard USS Chesapeake during the early part of the War of 1812. In the battle with the British ship HMS Shannon on June 4, 1813, his commanding officer, Capt. James Lawrence, was mortally wounded and uttered in his dying breath, “Don’t give up the ship,” as the vessel fell into distress and was eventually lost.