William Howard Allen

Who was William Howard Allen?

William Howard Allen was a United States naval officer. He was born in Hudson, New York in 1790; appointed midshipman in 1808 and became a hero during the War of 1812 when he served aboard USS Argus. Later he commanded the Alligator, which was sent to the West Indies to destroy pirates as part of the West Indies Squadron. He died while attacking three pirate vessels in 1822. A monument to his memory has been erected in Hudson, New York.