Definition

Proper noun: * Oliver Hazard Perry: A United States naval officer who achieved the rank of commodore. He is most famous for his decisive naval victory against British forces on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. He was the older brother of another notable naval officer, Matthew Calbraith Perry.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry is celebrated for his leadership at the Battle of Lake Erie.
  • The famous battle report, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," is attributed to Oliver Hazard Perry.
  • Several U.S. Navy ships have been named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry.

Advanced Usage

• "Perry's Victory": Often used as a shorthand reference to his triumph at the Battle of Lake Erie.
  • The monument commemorates Perry's Victory and International Peace.
• The phrase "We have met the enemy and they are ours" is indelibly linked to Oliver Hazard Perry and is a classic example of a succinct military dispatch.

Variants and Related Words

• Commodore Perry: A common alternative reference using his rank and last name.
• Perry's flagship: Refers specifically to the brig USS , and later the USS , which he commanded during the battle.

Synonyms

• Commodore Perry: (The most direct synonym, using his rank.)
• The Hero of Lake Erie: (An epithet highlighting his most famous achievement.)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Don't give up the ship!": This was the battle flag motto on Perry's flagship, the USS . While not an idiom he coined, it is forever associated with his legacy and represents determination and resilience.
  • Facing difficulties, the team adopted the spirit of "Don't give up the ship!"

Noun

1. United States commodore who led the fleet that defeated the British on Lake Erie during the War of 1812; brother of Matthew Calbraith Perry (1785-1819)