John Herbert Dent
Captain, U.S. Navy

John Herbert Dent was born on 22 February 1782 in Charles County, MD, the son of Congressman George Dent. His family had arrived in Maryland in the early Colonial days and had a long history of public service.

At the age of sixteen he was appointed a Midshipman on 16 March 1798. The Department of Navy had just been created by Congress in response to increasing attacks on merchant ships.

Navy Career

Dent served on the USS Constellation when she captured the French frigate Insurgente on 1 February 1799. He was acting Captain on the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) during the attacks on Tripoli in 1804. After serving on Constitution in the Mediterranean, he commanded the schooners USS Nautilus and USS Scourge during the First Barbary War, taking part in the attacks on Tripoli. He was in command of USS Hornet from 1806 to 1807.

During the War of 1812, he was senior officer in charge of U.S. Naval affairs in Charleston, SC.

Later Years

Captain Dent never returned to Maryland. He married in South Carolina and took up plantation life outside of Charleston.

Honors

The destroyer USS Dent (DD-116) was named for him.

Death and Burial

Captain John Herbert Dent died on 29 July 1823 at his plantation in St. Bartholomew's Parish, SC. He is buried at Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery in Jacksonboro, SC.