Uriah P. Levy

Biography

Commodore Uriah P. Levy, born in 1792, became the first Jewish officer in the U.S. Navy to attain the rank of commodore, distinguishing himself in early engagements against pirates and in the War of 1812 while advocating for humane discipline.

He restored Monticello, championed religious liberty, and promoted officers’ rights throughout his career; his death in 1862 left a legacy of patriotism and reform that is still honored today.