Daniel Carmick


Daniel Carmick was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1772, was appointed a lieutenant of Marines on USS Ganges on May 5, 1798, and entered the newly formed United States Marine Corps as a captain on July 11, 1798. During the Quasi-War with France, he commanded the Marine Detachment on the USS Constitution and led the daring attack to spike the cannon in the fort at Puerto Plata in Hispaniola.
Major Carmick served with distinction in the Mediterranean, and led Marines under Lt. François-Godefroy Barbin de Bellevue in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. When the war began, the U.S. naval presence in New Orleans was perhaps stronger than at any point in the country, certainly as to "gunboats," the shallow-draft coastal and riverine craft.
Wounded on December 28, 1814, by a Congreve rocket in one of the engagements which set the stage for the more well-known battle, Daniel Carmick died November 6, 1816. At that time, Carmick was the "second highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps." He is buried in Saint Louis Cemetery Number 2 in New Orleans.

Namesake

In 1942, the destroyer USS Carmick was named in his honor.

Additional notes

Marine Corps ceremonies were held at Major Carmick's tomb in conjunction with the Marine Corps "birthday" celebration, November, 2012. Carmick's contributions to his fledgling country and Corps have escaped well-deserved scrutiny. He participated in the U.S. Marine Corps' first landing on foreign soil on May 11, 1800, * is credited with helping to establish the term "leatherneck" in reference to Marines, and apparently had issues with authority, eventually being acquitted by a court martial and having his command returned to him.
Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas on March 3, 1776 again on January 28, 1778 a raid on Whitehaven, Great Britain on April 23, 1778. In addition, South Carolina Marines also landed on New Providence Island on May 8, 1782 while conducting joint operations with the Spanish Navy to assist in securing the Bahamas for Spain.