William Eaton

Notes:

United States Army Officer. He served in the Continental Army from 1780 to 1783 and attained the rank of Sergeant. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1790 and was Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1791 to 1792. He reentered the Army as a Captain in 1792 and served until 1799. In 1799 he was appointed Consul in Tunis, where he negotiated unsuccessfully to end annual tribute payments for allowing American ships to trade in the Mediterranean. Eaton returned to the United States in 1803 and in 1804 went back to North Africa with a Naval fleet. Upon discovering that the ruler in Tripoli had recently come to power by deposing his brother, Eaton determined to end interference with American ships by restoring the brother to power. Assembling a force including 400 Arabs and 100 Greeks and Americans, the self-styled "General" Eaton attacked the provincial capital of Derna. Eaton was wounded, and his attack enabled US Consul Tobias Lear to negotiate a treaty that left Tripoli's ruler in power, but ended annual United States tribute payments. On Eaton's return to America he was received as a hero, but failed to obtain compensation for his personal expenses. Massachusetts later granted him 10,000 acres of land and he settled in Brimfield. Aaron Burr attempted to enlist Eaton in his 1806 expedition, but Eaton declined and later testified at Burr's treason trial. From 1807 to 1808 Eaton served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The town of Eaton, New York is named for him. (bio by: Bill McKern)

Buried:
Brimfield Cemetery

William — Elizabeth Sykes. Elizabeth was born 1766, Massachusetts; died 20 May 1831, Auburn, Cayuga, New York; was buried Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]