View source for USS Alfred

{{Short description|1774 frigate}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=NH 85212-KN.jpg
|Ship caption=The '''Continental Ship ''Alfred'' ''' by [[William Nowland Van Powell|W. Nowland Van Powell]], depicting Lieutenant [[John Paul Jones]] hoisting the [[Grand Union Flag|first American flag]] on December 3, 1775.
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{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country= Great Britain
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Great Britain|civil}} 
|Ship name= ''Black Prince''
|Ship namesake= [[Edward the Black Prince|Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall]]
|Ship owner= Willing, Morris & Co.
|Ship launched= 1774
|Ship homeport= [[Philadelphia]], [[Province of Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]
|Ship fate= Sold on December 3, 1775
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country= United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1775}} {{USN flag|1778}}
|Ship name= USS ''Alfred''
|Ship namesake= [[Alfred the Great|Alfred of Wessex]]
|Ship ordered= November 4, 1775
|Ship commissioned= December 3, 1775
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto= 
|Ship honors=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate= Captured on March 9, 1778
|Ship notes=
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}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header = title
|Ship country= Great Britain 
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Great Britain|naval}}
|Ship name=HMS ''Alfred''
|Ship acquired=March 1778
|Ship fate=Sold in 1782
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header = title
|Ship country=Great Britain
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Great Britain|civil}} 
|Ship name = ''Alfred''
|Ship owner = T. Seale
|Ship acquired = 1782
|Ship commissioned = 
|Ship decommissioned = 
|Ship in service = 
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|Ship notes = Still in service in 1789
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class= 
|Ship type= 
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship tons burthen=440 ([[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]])
|Ship length= {{convert|140|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam= {{convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}}  
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks=
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|Ship complement=220 officers and men
|Ship armament=*20 × 9-pounder guns
*10 × 6-pounder guns
|Ship notes=
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{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|commanders=*[[John Barry (1745-1803)|John Barry]], Master (1774–76)
*Capt. [[Dudley Saltonstall]] (1776)
*Capt. [[John Paul Jones]] (1776–77)
*Capt. Elisha Hinman (1777–78)
|operations=
*[[Raid of Nassau|Battle of Nassau]]
*[[Battle of Block Island]]
}}
|}
'''''Alfred''''' was the merchant vessel '''''Black Prince''''', named for [[Edward the Black Prince|Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall]] and launched in 1774. The [[Continental Navy]] acquired her in 1775, renaming her ''Alfred'' after [[9th century]] English monarch [[Alfred the Great|Alfred of Wessex]], and commissioned her as a 24-gun [[frigate]]. During the [[American Revolutionary War]], the ''Alfred'' participated in two major [[Military operation|naval operation]]s; the [[Raid of Nassau|battles of Nassau]] and [[Battle of Block Island|Block Island]]. The [[Royal Navy]] captured her in 1778, took her into service as HMS ''Alfred'', and sold her in 1782. She then became the merchantman ''Alfred'', and sailed between [[London]] and [[Jamaica]].

==''Black Prince''==
''Black Prince'' was built at [[Philadelphia]], [[Province of Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]] in 1774. No record of her builder seems to have survived, but it is possible that John Wharton may have constructed the ship. She was owned by Willing, Morris & Co., a merchant trading firm operated by [[Thomas Willing]] and [[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]. [[John Barry (1745-1803)|John Barry]] served as the ship's only master during her career as a Philadelphia merchantman. Launched in the autumn of 1774 as relations between the  [[Thirteen Colonies|colonies]] and the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|mother country]] grew increasingly tense, the ''Black Prince'' was fitted out quickly so that she could load and sail to [[Bristol]] on the last day of 1774. It did not return until April 25, 1775, six days after the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord|Battle of Lexington]].

Fearing that American commerce would soon be interrupted, her owners were eager to export another cargo to England, so they again raced to load and provision her. ''Black Prince'' sailed on May 7, this time bound for London. She did not reach that destination until June 27. The ship left the [[Thames]] on August 10 but encountered contrary winds during much of her westward voyage and finally returned to Philadelphia on October 4. While the ship had been abroad, the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]] had been fought, the other colonies acting in [[Continental Congress|Congress]] had pledged to support [[Massachusetts]] in its struggle for freedom, and [[George Washington]] had taken command of the [[Continental Army|American Army]] besieging British-occupied [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]]. Moreover, private correspondence, between shipowner Morris, and his trading partner, Richard Champion of Bristol, was brought from England on ''Black Prince'' to members of the Continental Congress. It reported that the British Government was sending to America two unarmed [[brig]]s heavily laden with gunpowder and arms.

This intelligence prompted Congress on October 13 to authorize the fitting out of two American warships,<ref>https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/naval-documents-of-the-american-revolution/NDARVolume2.pdf, pg 441</ref> one of 10 guns and the other of an unspecified size, to attempt to capture these ships and divert their invaluable cargoes to the ill-equipped soldiers of Washington's army. Congress decided, on October 30,<ref>https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/naval-documents-of-the-american-revolution/NDARVolume2.pdf, pg 647</ref> to specify the second vessel as being 14 guns and to add two more ships to the navy, one of 20 guns and the other slightly larger but not to exceed 36 guns. One of the ship's owners, Morris, was a member of the Marine Committee when that committee acquired the ''Alfred''. A second ship, also owned by Willing Morris & Co. became the ''Columbus'' at the same time.

==USS ''Alfred''==
The Naval Committee of the Continental Congress purchased ''Black Prince'' on November 4, 1775, renaming her ''Alfred'' after 9th century English monarch Alfred of Wessex,  four days later, and ordered her fitted out as a [[man-of-war]]. Her former master, John Barry, was placed in charge of her rerigging; [[Joshua Humphreys]] was selected to superintend changes strengthening her hull, timbers, and bulwarks as well as opening gunports; and Nathaniel Falconer was made responsible for her ordnance and provisions. Soon four other vessels joined her in the Continental Navy: {{USS|Columbus|1774|2}}, {{USS|Cabot|1775|2}}, {{ship||Andrew Doria|1775 brig|2}}, and [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] {{USS|Providence|1775|2}}. [[Esek Hopkins]], a veteran master of merchantmen from [[Rhode Island]], was appointed commodore of the flotilla. ''Alfred'' was acquired on December 3, 1775, Capt. [[Dudley Saltonstall]] in command, and became Hopkins' [[flagship]]. On the same day ''Alfred'' became the first vessel to fly the [[Grand Union Flag|"Flag of America"]] (precursor to the [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]]). The [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]] was hoisted on the [[Delaware River|Delaware]] by Lieutenant [[John Paul Jones]] and documented in letters to Congress.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Francis Wharton |author-link=Francis Wharton |title=Chapter XIX John Paul Jones-Sayre ~ John Paul Jones Public Services & Effect of his Cruises |url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lldc&fileName=001/lldc001.db&recNum=642 |journal=Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 |trans-title=The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States |volume=1 |issue=August 13, 1888 |pages=611–614}}</ref>

The new fleet dropped down the Delaware on January 4, 1776; but a cold snap froze the river and the bay, checking its progress at [[Reedy Island]] for some six weeks. A thaw released Hopkins' warships from winter's icy grasp in mid-February, and the fleet sortied on 18 February for its first operation. The [[Marine Committee]] had ordered Hopkins to sail for [[Hampton Roads]] to attack British warships which were harassing American shipping in [[Virginia]] waters; then to render similar service at [[Charleston, South Carolina]]; and, finally, to head for Rhode Island waters. He was given the discretion of disregarding these orders if they proved impossible and planning an operation of his own. However, by the time his ships broke free of the ice, growing British strength in the [[Chesapeake Bay|Chesapeake]] prompted Hopkins to head for the [[West Indies]]. Knowing that the American colonies desperately needed gunpowder, he decided to attack the island of [[New Providence]] in the [[Bahamas]] to capture a large supply of that commodity as well as other military supplies reportedly stored there in great quantity.

A fortnight after leaving the [[Delaware capes]], on the morning of March 3 Hopkins arrived off [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]] and captured Fort Montague in a bloodless [[Raid of Nassau|Battle of Nassau]], in which [[Continental Marines]] under Capt. [[Samuel Nicholas]] joined Hopkins' sailors in America's first amphibious operation. That evening, Hopkins issued a proclamation which promised not to harm "... the persons or property of the inhabitants of New Providence ..." if they did not resist. The following morning, Governor [[Montfort Browne]] surrendered [[Nassau, Bahamas|Fort Nassau]] but only after he had spirited away most of the island's gunpowder from New Providence to [[Saint Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine, Florida]].

After Hopkins stripped the forts of their guns and all remaining ordnance, ''Alfred'' led the American fleet homeward from Nassau harbor on [[St. Patrick's Day]], March 17, the same day that British troops were evacuating Boston. On April 4, during the homeward voyage, Hopkins' ships captured the six-gun British [[schooner]] [[HMS Hawk (1775)|''Hawk'']] and the eight-gun [[brig]] {{HMS|Bolton|1775|2}}. Shortly after midnight on April 6, Hopkins encountered the 20-gun [[HMS Glasgow (1757)|''Glasgow'']]. That British [[frigate]]—which was carrying dispatches telling of the British withdrawal—put up [[Battle of Block Island|a fierce and skillful fight]] which enabled her to escape from her substantially more powerful American opponents. At the outset of the fray, fire from her cannon cut ''Alfred'''s tiller ropes, leaving Hopkins' flagship unable to maneuver or to pursue effectively. The American ships did attempt to chase their fleeing enemy, but after dawn ''Glasgow'' disappeared over the horizon and safely reached [[Newport, Rhode Island]]. When ''Alfred'' and her consorts put into [[New London, Connecticut]] on April 8, the Americans were at first welcomed as heroes. still, many of the officers of the American squadron voiced dissatisfaction with Hopkins, and he was later relieved of command.

''Alfred'' was inactive through the summer for a number of reasons, but high on the list of her problems were want of funds and a shortage of men. On August 7, Capt. John Paul Jones, who had helped to fit her out as a warship and had been her first lieutenant on the cruise to New Providence, was placed in command of the ship. She departed [[Providence, Rhode Island]], on October 26, 1776, in company with [[USS Hampden|''Hampden'']], but that vessel struck a "sunken rock" before they could leave [[Narragansett Bay]] and returned to Newport. Her officers and men then shifted to sloop ''Providence'' accompanying ''Alfred'' to waters off [[Cape Breton Island]] which they reached by mid-November. There they took three prizes: on the 11th, the [[brigantine]] ''Active'', bound from [[Liverpool]] to [[City of Halifax|Halifax]] with an assorted cargo, the next day, the armed transport ''Mellish'', laden with winter uniforms for British troops at [[Quebec]]; and, on the 16th, the scow ''Kitty'', bound from [[Gaspé, Quebec|Gaspé]] to [[Barbados]] with oil and fish.

Because of severe leaks, ''Providence'' sailed for home soon thereafter and ''Alfred'' continued her cruise alone. On November 22 boats from ''Alfred'' raided [[Canso, Nova Scotia]], where their crews burned a transport bound for Canada with provisions, and a warehouse full of whale oil, besides capturing a small schooner to replace ''Providence''. Two days later, ''Alfred'' captured three [[Collier (ship type)|colliers]] off [[Louisbourg, Nova Scotia|Louisburg]], bound from [[Nova Scotia]] to [[New York, New York|New York]] with coal for the British Army and, on November 26 captured the 10-gun [[letter-of-marque]] ''John'' of Liverpool. On the homeward voyage, ''Alfred'' was pursued by [[HMS Milford (1759)|HMS ''Milford'']] but managed to escape after a four-hour chase. She arrived safely at Boston on December 15 and began a major refit.

Captain Elisha Hinman became ''Alfred's'' commanding officer in May 1777. She did not get underway until August 22 when she sailed for France with USS {{USS|Raleigh|1776|2}} to obtain military supplies. En route, they captured four small prizes, including brig "Sally" on September 28.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/naval-documents-of-the-american-revolution/NavalDocumentsOfTheAmericanRevVol12_8JUN2015.pdf |title=Naval Documents of the American Revolution |publisher=history.navy.mil |access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref> They reached [[L'Orient]] on October 6, and on December 29 sailed for America. They proceeded via the coast of Africa, where they took a small sloop, and then headed for the West Indies, hoping to add to their score before turning northward for home. On March 9, 1778, near Barbados, they encountered British warships {{HMS|Ariadne|1776|6}} and {{HMS|Ceres|1777|6}}.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=12 September 1778|issue=11909|page=2}}</ref> When the American ships attempted to flee, ''Alfred'' fell behind her faster consort. Shortly after noon the British men-of-war caught up with ''Alfred'' and forced her to surrender after a half an hour's battle.

==HMS ''Alfred''==
Her captors took ''Alfred'' to [[Barbados]] where she was condemned and sold. The Royal Navy purchased her and took her into service as HMS ''Alfred'', a sloop of 20 guns. The Admiralty sold her in 1782.

==''Alfred''==
''Lloyd's Register'' for 1789 shows an ''Alfred'', of 400 tons (bm), built in Philadelphia, with master "Delamore" and owner T. Seale. Her trade is listed as London –  Jamaica. Unfortunately there are no readily available interim or later issues of ''Lloyd's Register'' so her history as a merchant vessel is unclear.

==See also==<!-- EDITORS NOTE: This section should primarily contain lists linked to the main article which are directly related to the ship. Thank you. -->
* [[List of ships captured in the 18th century]]

==Notes==
{{DANFS}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|USS Alfred (ship, 1774)|USS ''Alfred''}}
* [http://www.schoonerman.com/alfred.htm USS ''Alfred''] at Schooner Man

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfred (1774)}}
[[Category:1774 ships]]
[[Category:Age of Sail frigates of the United States]]
[[Category:Age of Sail merchant ships]]
[[Category:Captured ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Ships of the Continental Navy]]
[[Category:Sloops of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Three-masted ships]]