Master Commandant Richard Somers
Buried in Tripoli, Libya

Join the Repatriation Effort to Return Richard Somers
Master Commandant Richard Somers lost his life during the Barbary War in 1804. His body and those of the other 12 men who lost their lives with him are buried in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Tripoli, Libya. It is believed that there are five graves, one for each of the officers, and two mass graves for the ten crewmen. An explosion took place, so identification of the crew was difficult.

The bodies of the crewmen were originally buried along the shore. When the Libyan Coastal Highway was built in the 1930’s under the Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, the remains were found, moved up on the hill and buried beside the officers.

Efforts are ongoing by the Somers Point Historical Society to have all remains exhumed and returned to the United States for burial. Ancestors of Somers and Wadsworth are also involved in this effort.
If you are interested in helping the cause in asking the U.S. government to seek the immediate repatriation of the remains of the crew of the first USS Intrepid, you are asked to sign a petition to that effect.
The Repatriation of Richard Somers has the support of our Veterans' Groups.
The American Legion created a video expressing that support in 2011.
It is well worth watching.