Also during the War of 1812, John B. Montgomery participated in attack on Kingston, Upper Canada (Ontario), and capture of Little York, Fort George and Newark
After the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, he received a sword and the thanks of Congress for his services at that battle. Later he was present during the blockade and attack on Macknaw in August 1814.
Still later, he was transferred to the USS Ontario under Commander Stephen Decatur with whom he took part in the Algerine War (2nd Barbary War) of 1815.
Commissioned to the rank of lieutenant in 1818, he continued to rise through the ranks and in 1845, was given the command of the USS Portsmouth in the Navy's Pacific Fleet. (The Portsmouth also fought in the Civil War.)
When the Mexican War started, he took his ship to San Francisco Bay. On July 9, 1846, he led a small force from his ship to te coastal town of Yerba Buena and raised the American flag in the town plaza after capturing it without firing a shot.
In 1847, the town would be renamed officially San Francisco.
He also participated in the blockade of Mazatlan, Mexico, and the bombardment and capture of Guaymas on the Gulf of California.
--Old B-Runner
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