Jesse Duncan Elliott, an American naval officer, born in Maryland, July 14, 1782, died in Philadelphia, Dec. 18, 1845. He entered the service as a midshipman in April, 1804, and was promoted to a lieutenancy April 23, 1810. In 1812 he was attached to the command of Commodore Isaac Chauncey at Sack-ett's Harbor, and on the declaration of war against Great Britain was sent by him to the upper lakes to purchase vessels, and make other preparations for the creation of a naval force in those waters. "While he was at Black Rock, engaged in this service, two armed British brigs, the Detroit and Caledonia, anchored, Oct. 7, 1812, near the opposite shore under the guns of Fort Erie. A boat expedition was organized under Elliott's command, and the vessels were boarded and carried with but slight loss a little after midnight, Oct. 8. The Caledonia was safely brought over to the American side; but the Detroit was compelled to drop down the river, passing the British batteries under a heavy fire, and afterward was burned by the Americans, most of her stores having first been removed. For this exploit Elliott was voted a sword by congress.

In July, 1813, he was promoted to the rank of master commandant, and appointed to the Niagara, a brig of 20 guns, on Lake Erie. In Perry's engagement with the British squadron, Sept. 10, 1813, Elliott was second in command, and a gold medal was voted him by congress for his conduct on the occasion. In October he succeeded Perry in command on Lake Erie, and in 1815 he commanded the Ontario sloop of war, one of the squadron of Commodore Decatur employed against Algiers. He was promoted to the rank of captain, March 27, 1818, and till 1824 was engaged in selecting sites for dockyards, lighthouses, and fortifications on the coast of North Carolina. From 1829 to 1833 he was in command of the West India squadron, and in the latter year of the Charlestown navy yard. Afterward he commanded for several years the Mediterranean squadron. His conduct in this position did not meet the approval of the executive, and resulted in his trial by court martial in June, 1840, and suspension from duty for four years.

In October, 1843, the period of his suspension which then remained was remitted by the president, and he was appointed to the command of the Philadelphia navy yard.