Thomas Truxtun, an American naval officer, born on Long Island, Feb. 15, 1755, died in Philadelphia, May 5, 1822. During the revolution he served in privateers as lieutenant and captain, and made valuable captures. In 1795 he received a commission as captain in the navy. On Feb. 9,1799, in the frigate Constellation, 38 guns, off the island of Nevis, he captured the French frigate L'Insurgente, 40 guns, which was much cut up, and lost 29 men killed and 41 wounded. The Constellation sustained but little injury, and had one man killed and three wounded. On Feb. 1, 1800, the Constellation engaged off Guadeloupe the French frigate La Vengeance of 54 guns, which escaped into Curagoa dismasted and sinking, with a loss of 50 killed and 110 wounded. The loss of the Constellation was 14 killed and 25 wounded. Her mainmast went by the board at the close of the action, which prevented her from pursuing. For this action congress awarded Truxtun a gold medal. In 1802 a squadron was fitted out against Tripoli, and Truxtun having declined the command because he was refused a captain for his flag ship, his declination was construed into a resignation, and his name was struck from the navy list. He retired to Philadelphia, where in 1816-19 he was high sheriff.

He published " Remarks relating to Latitude and Longitude and Variation of the Compass" (1794), and a volume of extracts on naval tactics (1806).