A naval engagement in the War of 1812. Control of Lake Erie was of critical importance to both the USA and the UK, and by the late summer of 1813 each had commissioned a locally built and manned squadron of warships. Ten US vessels under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry met six British vessels under Captain James Barclay off Put‐in‐Bay. After hard fighting, Perry captured the entire British squadron. His victory opened the way for a renewed US attack on Canada.