Thomas Mcdonough, an American naval officer, born in New Castle co., Del., Dec. 23, 1783, died at sea, Nov. 16, 1825. lie entered the navy as a midshipman in February, 1800, and in 1803 was attached to the frigate Philadelphia, Capt. William Bainbridge, one of the squadron employed against Tripoli, under the command of Com. Edward Preble. On Aug. 26, 1803, the Philadelphia captured off Cape de Gatte, on the coast of Spain, the Moorish frigate Meshboa, and McDonough escaped the captivity which subsequently befell the officers and crew of the Philadelphia by being left at Gibraltar with her prize. He afterward served in the schooner Enterprise, commanded by Decatur, participating in the various attacks made in 1804 upon the city and batteries of Tripoli, and was one of the party under Decatur which recaptured and destroyed the Philadelphia on the night of Feb. 16, 1804. In 1807 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1813 to that of master commandant. In 1814 he commanded a squadron on Lake Champlain, and on Sept. 11 of that year gained a victory over a British squadron commanded by Commodore George Downie. (See Champlain, Lake.) For his services on this occasion McDonough was made captain, and received a gold medal from congress.

Numerous civic honors were also bestowed upon him by different cities and towns, and the legislature of Vermont presented him with an estate upon Cumberland Head, which overlooks the scene of the engagement. His last command was that of the Mediterranean squadron, and he died on board a trading brig sent by government to bring him home.