DOBBINS, Daniel, naval officer, born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, 5 July 1776: died at Presque Isle, 29 February 1856. He visited Lake Erie with a party of surveyors as early as 1796, and was with General Wayne at the time of his death. He became a resident there, and was noted as a navigator of the great lakes. When the British captured Mackinaw in 1812, he was present with his vessel, the "Salina," taken prisoner, and paroled. He was a second time made prisoner at Detroit,, but was soon paroled unconditionally. He was of great service in fitting out Perry's fleet on Lake Erie, and was with the expedition under Com. Sinclair that attempted to recapture Mackinaw. After the war he was in command of the "Washington," and in her conveyed the troops to Green bay, she being the first vessel that entered that harbor. Having been ordered to sea in 1826, he, in preference to going, resigned his commission as captain in the navy, but still remained in the employ of the government, and President Jackson appointed him commander of a revenue cutter in 1829. He retired finally from the service in 1849.