This Day in Naval History - Feb. 14

From the Navy News Service

1778 - John Paul Jones, while commanding the American vessel Ranger, receives the first official salute to the U.S. Stars and Stripes flag by a European country, at Quiberon, France.

1804 - Lt. Stephen Decatur, with volunteers from frigate Constitution and schooner Enterprise, enters Tripoli Harbor by night in the ketch Intrepid to destroy the captured frigate Philadelphia. Decatur succeeds without American losses.

1813 - USS Essex becomes first U.S. warship to round Cape Horn and enter the Pacific Ocean.

1814 - USS Constitution captures the British ships Lovely Ann and Pictou.

1840 - Officers from USS Vincennes make the first landing in Antarctica on floating ice.