John Thomas Newton, a United States Navy officer and War of 1812 veteran, was born on May 20, 1794, and died on July 28, 1857. He is buried in Alexandria’s Presbyterian Cemetery. A distinguished figure in the early history of the U.S. Navy, Newton devoted 48 years to naval service, beginning his career in 1809.
John Thomas Newton and the USS Hornet in the War of 1812
Notably, he held the rank of Lieutenant aboard the USS Hornet victory over HMS Peacock, a ship that played a pivotal role in the War of 1812 by successfully sinking the British sloop HMS Peacock off the South American coast. As a testament to his courage and valor, the United States Congress bestowed upon him a Silver Medal, while the ship’s commander, Captain James Lawrence, received a Gold Medal for his contributions. These distinctions are documented in contemporary naval records and the proceedings of the United States Congress following the engagement.
Watercolor (attributed to Warren) depicting the War of 1812 naval action off the Demerara River in which the U.S. sloop Hornet defeated the British sloop Peacock. Courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. Navy (Catalog No. USN 902788).
Engraving of the medal authorized by the United States Congress to honor Captain Lawrence’s victory aboard USS Hornet over HMS Peacock on 24 February 1813. A gold medal was presented to Lawrence’s family, while silver medals were awarded to the commissioned officers who served under him, including Lieutenant John Thomas Newton. Engraving published in Lossing’s Field Book of the War of 1812, p. 700. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
In recognition of his exceptional heroism during the War of 1812, the citizens of Alexandria also honored John Thomas Newton with a symbolic gift – a sword, symbolizing his dedication and service to his country.
USS Missouri (1841)
In 1841, John Thomas Newton assumed command of the USS Missouri, a steam frigate side-wheeler, setting sail on a crucial mission to transport American Ambassador Caleb Cushing to Gibraltar—this journey aimed to initiate negotiations for the first commercial treaty with China.
Tragic Fire in Gibraltar.
Tragically, disaster struck on the night of August 26, 1843, shortly after the ship’s arrival in Gibraltar on August 25. A crew member accidentally broke and ignited a container of turpentine in the storeroom, leading to a rapid and devastating fire that engulfed the USS Missouri. With no recourse but to abandon the ship, the crew faced a perilous situation.
In a stroke of luck, Ambassador Cushing managed to salvage his official letter to the Daoguang Emperor of China, preserving the critical document and enabling him to fulfill his mission at a later time.
Newton was court-martialed from September to October 1844 for negligence in the loss of the USS Missouri. According to naval historian Nathan Miller, Newton was suspended from service—notably his second ship lost to fire, following an 1829 incident. This incident had a lasting impact on the US Navy, as it established the tradition of holding the ship’s Captain ultimately accountable for all occurrences onboard.
Death and Burial
After returning to naval service, John Thomas Newton attained the rank of Commodore and continued to serve his country until his death in Washington, D.C., on July 28, 1857. He was initially placed in the public vault at Washington’s Congressional Cemetery on July 30, 1857, and was subsequently removed and reinterred in Alexandria’s Presbyterian Cemetery on November 25, 1857, where his gravestone commemorates his long and active naval career, including service during the War of 1812. Newton’s family was closely connected to Alexandria’s civic and religious life: his sister married into the Wise family, long associated with the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, and his daughter Sarah Newton later married engineer and industrialist Henry Rossiter Worthington.
| Sacred to the memory of JOHN THOMAS NEWTON commodore U.S.N. born in Alexandria, VA 20th May 1794 died in Washington, DC 28th July 1857 Entered the Navy in 1809, was an officer in active service during the war of 1812 and died while in the performance of his duty and celebrated 48 years of his life to the service of his Country |
Sources of Information
American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (1980). Mechanical engineers in America born prior to 1861: A biographical dictionary. New York, NY: ASME.
Dahmann, D. C. (2022). Roster of historic congregational members of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House (Updated ed.). Alexandria, VA.
Find A Grave. (n.d.). John T. Newton (memorial no. 234763919). Find A Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234763919/john-t-newton
Miller, N. (1977). The U.S. Navy: An Illustrated History. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., p. 126.
Pippenger, W. E. (1992). Tombstone inscriptions of Alexandria, Virginia (Vol. 1). Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications; Bowie, MD: Heritage Books.
The Alexandria Association. (1956). Our town, 1749–1865: At Gadsby’s Tavern, Alexandria, Virginia. Alexandria, VA: The Dietz Printing Company.
Van Horn, H. M. (2009). The Presbyterian Cemetery: Alexandria, Virginia, 1809–2009. Arlington, VA: The Arlington Press for the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.
Worthington, H. R. (1926, November 2). Henry Rossiter Worthington [Obituary]. The New York Times, p. 27.
Updated January 2026 to incorporate additional documentation, images, and burial records.