# Samuel Blyth

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For the English priest, see [Samuel Blythe](/source/Samuel_Blythe).

[Commander](/source/Commander_(Royal_Navy)) **Samuel Blyth** (1783 – 5 September 1813) was a [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) officer. He was captain of [HMS *Boxer*](/source/HMS_Boxer_(1812)) during the [War of 1812](/source/War_of_1812).

## Death

Main article: [Capture of HMS Boxer](/source/Capture_of_HMS_Boxer)

On 5 September 1813, the [USS *Enterprise*](/source/USS_Enterprise_(1799)), under the command of Lieutenant [William Ward Burrows II](/source/William_Ward_Burrows_II), fired upon [HMS *Boxer*](/source/HMS_Boxer_(1812)) while it was anchored in [Muscongus Bay](/source/Muscongus_Bay), near [Pemaquid Point](/source/Pemaquid_Point), [Maine](/source/Maine). The two vessels opened fire upon each other a short while later. Blyth "was struck by an eighteen-pound shot while he was standing on the [quarter-deck](/source/Quarterdeck)". The cannonball passed through his body entirely, shattering his left arm. He was killed instantly. Lieutenant David McCreery assumed command of the *Boxer*. Burrows was injured by a canister shot to his thigh. He remained on deck, but Lieutenant Edward McCall took command. The *Boxer* soon surrendered. Burrows refused to be moved until he had been killed by the enemy.[1]

Blyth was buried in [Eastern Cemetery](/source/Eastern_Cemetery) in [Portland, Maine](/source/Portland,_Maine), with [full military honours](/source/Military_funeral) at the same time and next to Burrows. The surviving officers placed a tombstone over Blyth's grave. Blyth was 29 years old; Burrows was 28.[2] [Midshipman](/source/Midshipman) Kervin Waters was interred beside them upon his death two years later from wounds received during the skirmish.[3]

An image of Blyth, alongside a short account of his life, the battle and his funeral was published in the British periodical *[The Naval Chronicle for 1814](/source/Naval_Chronicle)*.[4]

### Legacy

Blyth & Burrows, a bar in [Portland, Maine](/source/Portland,_Maine), is named for the duo.[2]

## References

1. [*The Naval War of 1812*](https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/public/gdcmassbookdig/navalwarof1812or00roos/navalwarof1812or00roos.pdf) – [Theodore Roosevelt](/source/Theodore_Roosevelt) ([G. P. Putnam's Sons](/source/G._P._Putnam's_Sons), 1882)

1. Bennett, Troy R. (2023-09-28). ["Forgotten hero of Maine's famed sea fight finally gets a headstone"](http://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/09/28/news/portland/maine-hero-samuel-drinkwater-headstone-joam40zk0w/). *Bangor Daily News*. Retrieved 2024-01-29.

1. Ledman, Paul J. (2016). *Walking Through History: Portland, Maine on Foot*. Next Steps Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-9728587-1-7.

1. ["Cmdr. Samuel Blyth, ca. 1812"](https://www.mainememory.net/record/25215). *Maine Memory Network*. Retrieved 2024-01-29.

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