Joel Barlow (1754-1812) — of Hartford, Hartford
County, Conn. Born in Redding, Fairfield
County, Conn., March 24,
1754. Son of Samuel Barlow and Esther (Hull) Barlow; married 1781 to Ruth
Baldwin (sister of Abraham
Baldwin). Served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary
War; writer; poet; U.S.
Consul in Cadiz, 1792-93; U.S. Consul General in Algiers, 1796-97; U.S. Minister to France, 1811-12, died in office 1812. Member, Society
of the Cincinnati; Freemasons. He was sent to Algeria to
negotiate for the release of those held prisoner by the Barbary
pirates, and was protected by a detachment of U.S. Marines. The
words "to the shores of Tripoli" in the U.S. Marine Hymn are a
reference to this incident. Died, of pneumonia
or exposure,
in Zarnowiec, Poland,
December
24, 1812. Interment at Churchyard,
Zarnowiec, Poland; cenotaph at Great
Pasture Road Cemetery, Redding, Conn.