Editing Richard Somers (section)

==Early career==
Born at Great [[Egg Harbor City, New Jersey|Egg Harbor, New Jersey]], he attended the [[Episcopal Academy]] in [[Philadelphia]] with future naval heroes [[Stephen Decatur]] and [[Charles Stewart (1778-1869)|Charles Stewart]].  He was appointed [[midshipman]] on April 23, 1797, and served in the [[West Indies]] during the [[Quasi-War]] with [[France]] on the [[frigate]] [[USS United States (1797)|''United States'']] with Decatur and Stewart, a ship commanded by Captain [[John Barry (1745-1803)|John Barry]]. He was promoted to [[lieutenant]] on May 21, 1799.

In 1800, Somers fought three [[duel]]s on the same day with multiple opponents because they accused him of cowardice for failing to challenge Decatur over a joking insult they overheard. Somers was wounded in the first two duels and had to be supported during the third (by Decatur, who was acting as his second).<ref>{{cite book|title=United States Naval Institute Proceedings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Z8jAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1163|year=1909|publisher=United States Naval Institute|page=1163}}</ref>

Somers was detached from ''United States'' on June 13, 1801, and ordered to [[USS Boston (1799)|''Boston'']] on July 30, 1801. He served in the latter frigate in the [[Mediterranean]]. After ''Boston'' returned to [[Washington, DC]], Somers was [[furlough]]ed on November 11, 1802, to await orders.