Author and maritime historian Donald G. Shomette of Dunkirk received the Spirit of 1812 Medal from the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 on April 3, 2026.
National President Cher Sesma presented the award during the 134th Associate Council national conference in Washington, DC. Shomette was recognized for his extensive body of work on the period from 1784 to 1815, particularly his research and writings on Commodore Joshua Barney and the Chesapeake Flotilla during the War of 1812.
The Ella Virginia Houck Holloway Chapter of Southern Maryland nominated Shomette for the medal. The National Society United States Daughters of 1812, a nonprofit nonpolitical women’s service organization founded in 1892 and headquartered in Washington, DC, promotes patriotism, preserves historic documents and relics, marks historic sites, and educates the public about the roles of individuals who shaped the nation between the end of the American Revolution and the end of the War of 1812.
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Dr. William Dudley, past director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, commended Shomette’s archaeological projects and maritime history accounts that span the Chesapeake region to the North Sea, where he participated in the search for the remains of Commodore John Paul Jones’ flagship Bon Homme Richard.
Grace Mary Brady of the Bayside History Museum in North Beach stated, “Mr. Shomette has dedicated more than 60 years of his life to underwater archaeology, extensive research on sunken ships in the Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere. He is a wonderful steward of history and gives generously of his time and knowledge to help others learn.”
In 1979, Shomette discovered the site of Commodore Barney’s flotilla during an underwater archaeological survey of the Patuxent River. His book Tidewater Time Capsule: History Beneath the Patuxent provides a first-person account of the investigation and systematic survey of the area where the fleet was scuttled in 1814 to prevent capture by advancing British forces heading toward Washington, DC.
Shomette’s book Flotilla: The Patuxent Naval Campaign in the War of 1812, first published in 1981 with an expanded illustrated edition in 2009, details Barney’s plan to deploy inexpensive shallow-draft gunboats as a distraction against British Rear Admiral George Cockburn’s forces that burned and terrorized small Maryland towns along the Chesapeake Bay.
Additional works by Shomette include Shipwrecks on the Chesapeake and Pirates on the Chesapeake: Being a True History of Pirates, Picaroons, and Raiders on Chesapeake Bay, 1610-1807. In Lost Towns of Tidewater Maryland, he examines communities such as Battle Town, St. Leonard’s Town, Lower Marlboro and Nottingham, all burned by the British in 1814, along with other towns that declined as rivers silted and transportation routes changed.
Shomette maintains public outreach as a speaker for libraries and historical societies. He served as guide for a 2024 Smithsonian Associates tour titled “On American Soil: The 1814 British Invasion of the Chesapeake” and contributes as an authority to national and international television documentaries and articles.
Southern Maryland’s connection to the War of 1812 runs deep through the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, where British forces advanced in 1814. Shomette’s discoveries and writings have illuminated local history for residents in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. The region’s shoreline communities, including Dunkirk in Calvert County, preserve stories of resistance and resilience that Shomette has documented through decades of fieldwork and publication.
The Spirit of 1812 Medal honors individuals whose contributions advance understanding of the 1784-1815 era. Shomette’s work aligns with the Daughters of 1812 mission by preserving maritime heritage and educating the public about key figures and events in early American naval history.
Shomette resides in Dunkirk, a community in northern Calvert County that borders Anne Arundel County and overlooks the Chesapeake Bay. His research has direct relevance to Southern Maryland’s historic sites and ongoing efforts to interpret the War of 1812 for visitors and students.
The National Society United States Daughters of 1812 encourages interest in membership and its programs. Details are available at usdaughters1812.org.
This recognition highlights the continued importance of historical scholarship in Southern Maryland, where local chapters of patriotic organizations actively support preservation and education initiatives tied to the state’s founding-era heritage.
