The Battle of Derna at Derna, Cyrenaica, was the decisive victory in AprilMay 1805 of a mercenary army recruited and led by United States Marines under the command of U.S. Army Lieutenant William Eaton, diplomatic Consul to Tripoli, and U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Presley Neville O'Bannon. The battle involved a forced 521-mile (839-km) march through the North African desert from Alexandria, Egypt, to the eastern port city of Derna, Libya, which was defended by a much larger force.
Yusuf (ibn Ali) Karamanli, Caramanli or Qaramanli or al-Qaramanli (most commonly Yusuf Karamanli), (1766 – 1838) was the longest-reigning Pasha of the Karamanli dynasty of Tripolitania (in present-day Libya). He is noted for his role in the Barbary Wars against the United States.
1804May, 13
Forces sent by Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli to retake Derna from the Americans attack the city.
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Events on 1804
- 14Feb
First Serbian Uprising
Karađorđe leads the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. - 16Feb
Stephen Decatur
First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia. - 11Jul
Aaron Burr
A duel occurs in which the Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. - 12Jul
Burr-Hamilton duel
Former United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton dies a day after being shot in a duel. - 25Sep
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Teton Sioux (a subdivision of the Lakota) demand one of the boats from the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a toll for allowing the expedition to move further upriver.