Allen was born in Providence, Rhode Island and was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy on 28 April 1800. Shortly after his appointment Allen was ordered on board the frigate George Washington, commanded by captain Bainbridge. On board of USS George Washington, he sailed to Algiers. Upon returning to the United States in April 1801, he was ordered on board of USS Philadelphia, commanded by captain Samuel Barron. With USS Philadelphia, he sailed the Mediterranean sea until June 1802. Allen sailed back to the Mediterranean sea again from October 1802 until December 1803 on board of USS John Adams. In 1804 he was appointed sailing-master of USS Congress. Under the command of captain Rodgers, he sailed for the Mediterranean. In October 1805, together with captain Rogers Allen was removed to USS Constitution, and promoted to a lieutenancy. In 1806, Allen returned on board of USS Constitution to the United States. On 17 February 1807, after a short break in Providence, he was attached to USS Chesapeake, where he served in the rank third lieutenant under the command of captain Baron. On 21 June 1807, he participated in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair in which USS Chesapeake was boarded by the British and four sailors were taken captive on suspicion of being deserters from the Royal Navy. Allen was credited with firing the only gun discharged in her own defense by the American ship. The incident was a key development in building American resentment toward the British which eventually resulted in the War of 1812. In 1809, Allen was transferred to USS United States, under the command of Captain Stephen Decatur.
War of 1812
By 1812, Allen as a first lieutenant of the frigate United States took part in the engagement with HMS Macedonian. At the conclusion of that capture, he was named to command the prize crew which took Macedonian into New York. After that lieutenant Allen took some time off from the naval service in Providence, but was called on active duty once again. On 24 July 1813, by order of commodore Decatur he was assigned to command the brig Argus as a master commandant. On 14 August, he led his ship in the engagement with HMS Pelican during which he received mortal wounds. A canon round shattered his left knee, but he remained at his station until he fainted from blood loss. After Argus' surrender, Allen's leg was amputated on board of Argus, while he was taken to the hospital at Plymouth's Millbay Prison where he died at 11 o'clock at night on 18 August 1813. Master Commandant Allen was buried with full military honors in the churchyard of St Andrew's, Plymouth, England.
Legacy
In 1814 a small row galley was named the USS Allen in his honor. The destroyer USS Allen was also named after him. The Allen served during World War I and was present at Pearl Harbor during the attack on 7 December 1941. The Allen was the oldest destroyer in the Navy during World War II. She was assigned to training duties and spent the remainder of the war at Pearl Harbor. After the war, she was decommissioned and sold for scrap.
His father, William Allen, soon after the start of the American Revolution in June 1775, was commissioned an ensign in the 3rd Rhode Island Regiment in the Continental Army. His regiment served in the Siege of Boston and was disbanded on December 31, 1775. In January 1776, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant in the 11th Continental Infantry Regiment and served until the regiment was disbanded at the end of the year. In January 1777 he was promoted to captain in the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment. He commanded a company of the Rhode Island line of troops at the Battle of Saratoga. He transferred to the 1st Rhode Island Regiment when the two Rhode Island regiments were consolidated on January 1, 1781. William Allen was present and actively engaged in many of the battles which were fought during our Revolutionary War. In recognition of his service, he was advanced to the brevet rank of major on September 30, 1783. He served until the Continental Army was disbanded on November 3, 1783. In 1786, Allen was appointed by Congress, senior officer of the legionary corps raised in Rhode Island. In the year 1799, he was appointed by the Rhode Island General Assembly a brigadier general of militia. The mother of William Henry Allen, was the sister of William Jones, who served as Governor of Rhode Island.
