How Two British Ships Helped Create the Continental Navy

The battle between the frigates Bonhomme Richard, helmed by Capt. John Paul Jones, and the HMS Serapis, as painted in 1780 by Richard Paton. Public Domain

Six months had passed since the opening scenes at Lexington and Concord. The Second Continental Congress had been in session for five months. George Washington had been commander-in-chief of the Continental Army for three months. It had been two months since King George III had proclaimed that the 13 colonies had “proceeded to open and avowed rebellion, by arraying themselves in a hostile manner, to withstand the execution of the law, and traitorously preparing, ordering and levying war against us.”

Though the Continental Congress and those of the Continental Army had, according to the king, gone too far, Congress was still hesitant about making a seemingly necessary and inevitable decision. Since the 13 colonies aligned the eastern seaboard, what made for easy maritime trade and disembarkment, had proven to allow for easy naval invasions, especially since the world’s largest navy had now become their enemy.

The Lexington (C) was an 86-foot two-mast wartime sailing ship purchased in 1776 for the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. Public Domain

The British Royal Navy dominated the seas, and at the start of the American Revolution possessed around 250 vessels of various kinds. Before the war’s end, that number would nearly double. Nonetheless, Washington and some members of Congress felt that protecting the coastline and ports was an absolute necessity.

Most members of Congress thought it not just an unnecessary escalation of hostilities, but a futile move. When the subject was broached by delegates from Rhode Island on Oct. 3, 1775, it was quickly shot down. Samuel Chase, the delegate from Maryland (home of the future Naval Academy at Annapolis), called it the “maddest idea in the world.” It should be remembered that the Continental Congress was still nearly a year from declaring independence.

The debate was settled. The colonies would rely on privateers and the colonies’ individual navies. That is, until two days later. Intelligence reports had circulated through to Congress that two British ships had left England and were headed to Quebec. These ships were unarmed and were sailing without a convoy. Though they were technically unarmed, these ships were still carrying munitions for British troops. Congress immediately assembled a committee to revisit the naval question.

A Letter From Washington

The committee made recommendations that Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut send vessels to intercept British ships carrying munitions, and then for Congress to permit the building of two naval warships. As is typical of any congressional decision, it was long in coming. The resolutions would lie in wait for another week.

On the same day that Congress received news of the two unarmed and unescorted British ships, Washington wrote and sent off a letter to Congress. His letter was accompanied with a plea of expediency from Joseph Reed, Washington’s military secretary, to William Ellery, the postmaster in Hartford, Connecticut. “The Letters above referr’d to are of great Importance let there be special Care in crossing the North River.”

Washington had received the same intelligence reports about the two ships. Seeing opportunity, he did what Congress was hesitant to do. On Oct. 13, Washington’s letter arrived and was read aloud before Congress. Among the topics addressed was the suspected espionage of Dr. Benjamin Church, the recalling of British Gen. Thomas Gage, and the installment of his replacement Gen. William Howe, and his plans for intercepting British ships.

“I have directed 3 Vessels to be equipped in order to cut off the Supplies, & from the Number of Vessels hourly arriving it may become an Object of some Importance. In the Disposal of these Captures; for the Encouragement of the Officers & Men, I have allowed them one third of the Cargoes except military Stores, which with the Vessels are to be reserved for the publick Use. I hope my Plan as well as the Execution will be favoured with the Approbation of Congress.”

Congress Decides

Realizing Washington had already begun what the committee had proposed, Congress saw no further reason to postpone a decision on the naval question. It was during this week in history, on Oct. 13, 1775, that the Continental Congress followed Washington’s lead and approved the establishment of a Continental Navy. Congress quickly followed up with establishing a Naval Committee composed of John Langdon of New Hampshire, Silas Deane of Connecticut, and John Adams of Massachusetts.

John Adams took an active role in the formation of the navy and the drafting of suitable operational regulations. Portrait by John Trumbell. (Public Domain)  

John Adams, who would remain a strong supporter of not just a Continental Navy, but later a U.S. Navy, would pen the upstart navy’s 44 articles composing the “Rules for the Regulation of the Navy of the United Colonies of North-America.” Most of these rules were adopted from those of the British Royal Navy.

Over the course of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Navy was joined by more than 1,000 privateers and together they would capture over 2,000 British merchant ships. One of those ships, the British brigantine Nancy, which was one of the two intercepted on their way to Quebec, possessed 2,000 muskets, barrels of gunpowder, 30 tons of musket shot, 100,000 flints, and 30,000 round shot.

John Paul Jones, the Continental Navy's first seaman to be appointed the rank of 1st lieutenant. Oil painting by George Bagby Matthews, circa 1890. Public Domain

One of the earliest heroes of the Continental Navy was John Paul Jones, whose famous attacks along the coasts of the British Isles and dramatic victory over the HMS Serapis frightened locals and infuriated British officials. You can read about his famous naval battle here.

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