Reuben James
Reuben James | |
|---|---|
James, wounded after battle in Tripoli, as painted by Dorothy Short (1944) | |
| Born | c. 1776 Delaware |
| Died | December 3, 1838 (aged 61–62) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | c. 1790s–1836 |
| Rank | Boatswain's mate |
| Battles / wars | |
.png){kind=link}
Reuben James (c. 1776 – December 3, 1838) was an American sailor who served as a boatswain's mate in the United States Navy. He is best known for purportedly saving the life of his commanding officer, Stephen Decatur, during the First Barbary War in 1804, though most historians agree he was wrongly credited for the actions of shipmate Daniel Frazier.