Changes

In 1811 he married Elizabeth Champlin Mason.  

In 1811 he married Elizabeth Champlin Mason.  

==War of 1812==

==War of 1812==

Perry returned to active duty in May of 1812 when the threat of a war with [[Britain]] was looming. He was appointed to the position of master-commandant. One month later, Congress declared war on Britain, beginning the [[War of 1812]], and Perry was put in command of a 12 gunboat fleet based at Newport, [[Rhode Island]] and New London, [[Connecticut]]. The job was not active enough for Perry's tastes however and he was on his request redeployed on February 1813 to Great Lakes, where both sides were engaged in a construction race to build fleets to control the lakes.  

Perry returned to active duty in May of 1812 when the threat of a war with [[Britain]] was looming. He was appointed to the position of master-commandant. One month later, Congress declared war on Britain, beginning the [[War of 1812]], and Perry was put in command of a 12 gunboat fleet based at Newport, [[Rhode Island]] and New London, [[Connecticut]]. The job was not active enough for Perry's tastes however and he was, on his request, redeployed on February 1813 to Great Lakes, where both sides were engaged in a construction race to build fleets to control the lakes.  

===Lake Erie===

===Lake Erie===

Perry was deployed to Erie, Pennsylvania in March 1813 with the rank of Master Commandant.  His assignment was building brigs from scratch; he worked with Noah Brown, an expert shipbuilder, to get the job done quickly. By July 1813,  six warships were ready; they were soon joined by six more from Buffalo, [[New York]].

Perry was deployed to Erie, Pennsylvania in March 1813 with the rank of Master Commandant.  His assignment was building brigs from scratch; he worked with Noah Brown, an expert shipbuilder, to get the job done quickly. By July 1813,  six warships were ready; they were soon joined by six more from Buffalo, [[New York]].