Captain John Rodgers was prominent in the wars against the Barbary powers, was the ranking active naval officer in the War of 1812 and first head of the Board of Navy Commissioners.  During the Quasi-War with France, he was First Lieutenant on USS Constellation during her victorious engagement with Insurgent in 1799, he was soon after promoted to captain.  Instrumental in the Barbary Wars, he blockaded Tripoli and captured the 16-gun brig Mashuda.  Captain Rodgers took command of USS Constitution in 1804. While in command, in 1805 he was appointed Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron and negotiated treaties that abolished US tribute payments to Tripoli and Tunis before returning to the United States in 1806. In 1809 he would again take command of USS Constitution leading the squadron cruising to protect American commerce. In 1810, USS President replaced USS Constitution as flagship, and Captain Rodgers shifted command accordingly while Captain Isaac Hull assumed command of U...