USS Sigourney (DD-81)

James Butler Sigourney, born in Boston, Mass., was appointed Midshipman on 16 January 1809. He served in Wasp and then became sailing master of Nautilus. He was captured with his ship shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812; and, after his exchange had been effected, he was placed in command of Asp, a schooner fitted out to defend the Chesapeake Bay. On 14 July 1813, Asp was attacked by three British barges but succeeded in driving them off. On a second attack, however, Asp was boarded, and Sigourney was killed at his post on deck.

The first Sigourney (Destroyer No. 81) was laid down on 25 August 1917 at Quincy, Mass., by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 16 December 1917; sponsored by Mrs. Granville W. [Jeannette] Johnson, wife of Granville W. Johnson of Boston, Mass. ; and commissioned on 15 May 1918, Cmdr. Walter N. Vernou in command.

On 27 May 1918, Sigourney sailed from the United States escorting a troop transport to France. On arrival at Brest, she was assigned to Commander Naval Forces, France; and, for the remainder of the Great War [World War I], she escorted convoys through the submarine danger zone extending approximately 500 miles west of Brest. During most of her convoys, Sigourney operated as the flagship of the screen commander but did not herself have any confirmed submarine contacts.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Sigourney I (Destroyer No. 81)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.