Final answer:
1. Stephen Decatur, Stephen Decatur led the naval forces that destroyed the captured USS Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor, becoming a national hero and bolstering American naval confidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The naval forces that entered Tripoli Harbor and destroyed the captured US frigate USS Philadelphia were led by Stephen Decatur. This bold action was part of the efforts during the First Barbary War. Decatur's successful and daring raid boosted American morale and signaled a new era of an assertive American navy.
Decatur later went on to serve during the War of 1812 and became a celebrated national hero for his exploits and leadership on the high seas.
In a daring and strategic operation during the First Barbary War in 1804, Stephen Decatur, a U.S. Navy captain, and his crew sailed the captured ketch USS Intrepid into Tripoli Harbor.
They executed a bold and successful mission, setting the captured USS Philadelphia ablaze to prevent its use by the enemy. This heroic action demonstrated Decatur's leadership and tactical skill, earning him widespread acclaim and contributing to the eventual success of the United States in the conflict against the Barbary pirates.