Jonas Coe

Jonas Halstead Coe (September 21, 1805 – October 30, 1864), sometimes given in Spanish as Comodoro Juan Coe, was an American-born naval commander, notable in the early naval history of Argentina and Uruguay.

Early years Coe was born in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey, in 1805.

Service history In Peruvian waters In 1824, at the age of 18, Coe joined the Chilean fleet, then commanded by Lord Cochrane, and served on board the brig Protector during the Peruvian War of Independence.

Cisplatine War Serving as an officer in the Argentine fleet under Admiral William Brown, he achieved distinction in the battles of Juncal and Monte Santiago in the Cisplatine War that led to the Uruguayan independence in 1828.

Following these reverses, President Rivera appointed Italian skipper Giuseppe Garibaldi to the rank of colonel and created the command of the 2ª División de la Escuadra Oriental, transferring most of Coe's ships to the new fleet. The new unit achieved some success before being routed by Admiral Brown in the battle of Costa Brava, on the Paraná River. On June 26, however, Coe deserted to the United States aboard the American sloop USS Jamestown after being bribed by Buenos Aires' citizens.

Personal life On July 7, 1828, Coe married Trinidad Balcarce, daughter of Argentine General Juan Ramon Balcarce and Trinidad García Balcarce, in Buenos Aires. The couple's first child, Dolores Coe Balcarce, was born in 1830.

Death and legacy Coe eventually returned to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he died on October 30, 1864, the father of ten children. His remains were buried at the family's grave in La Recoleta cemetery. He is the namesake of the ROU Comodoro Coe (07), a French-designed Vigilante-class patrol boat of the Uruguayan Navy commissioned in 1981.