Abraham Whipple (26 September 1733 – 27 May 1819) was an American revolutionary naval commander. Whipple was born near Providence, Rhode Island and chose to be a seafarer early in his life. He embarked upon a career in the lucrative West Indies trade, working for Moses Brown and John Brown (Rhode Island). In the French and Indian War period, he became a privateersman and commanded privateer Game Cock from 1759 to 1760. In one six-month cruise, he captured 23 French ships. September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ... Events February 12 - British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Navy is also:- shorthand for Navy Blue the nickname of the United States Naval Academy A navy is the branch of the armed forces of a nation that operates primarily on water. ... Insignia of a United States Navy Commander Commander is a military rank used in many navies but not generally in armies or air forces. ... Nickname: Beehive of Industry, The Renaissance City Location in Rhode Island Coordinates: Country United States State Rhode Island County Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline (D) Area    - City 20. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Moses Brown (1738–1836), designed and built the first factory houses for spinning machines during the American industrial revolution. ... John Brown (1736–1803) was an American merchant and statesman from Providence, Rhode Island. ... Combatants France and its Indian allies Britain and its Indian allies Strength 3,900 regulars 7,900 militia 2,200 natives (1759) 50,000 regulars and militia (1759) The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of the Seven Years War. ... A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a countrys government to attack and seize cargo from another countrys ships. ...

He sunk the first British ship of the American Revolution. The first to unfurl the Star Spangled Banner in London, he was also the first to build and sail an ocean-going ship 2000 miles down river from Ohio to the Caribbean, opening trade to the Northwest Territory. The American Revolution was a political movement that in 1776 created a new nation, the United States of America, ending British control. ...

Early life

Abraham Whipple was born in 26 September to Noah Whipple, Jr. Abraham Whipple and Sarah Hopkins were married on 2 August 1761. They had three children:

• John Hopkins Whipple (unknown – unknown).
• Catherine "Katy" Whipple (ca. 1759 – > 1834)
• Mary or Polly Whipple (ca. 1767 – > 1795)

Revolutionary activities

Rhode Island

As American colonists began to resist what they considered unfair oppression by the British crown, acts of defiance became more and more prevalent. One such occurrence happened on June 9, 1772, when Whipple led 50 Rhode Islanders in the capture and burning of British revenue cutter Gaspée, which had run aground off Pawtucket while chasing the packet Hannah. The incident initiated an exchange of notes between Whipple and Captain James Wallace of HMS Rose. Wallace wrote, "You Abraham Whipple on the 10th of June 1772 burned his majesty's vessel the Gaspée and I will hang you at the yard arm!" To which point Whipple responded, "Sir, always catch a man before you hang him." June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... Catherine IIs soldiers in the Russo-Turkish War, by Alexandre Benois. ... Burning of the Gaspee The Gaspée Affair was an important incident in the course of the American Revolution. ... Pawtucket is a city located in Providence County, Rhode Island. ...

Three years later, the Rhode Island General Assembly appointed Whipple commodore of two ships fitted out for the defense of the colony's trade. On the day the sea captain received his commission, 15 June 1775, he led his men to capture the tender to frigate HMS Rose. After cruising in the vicinity of Narragansett Bay, he headed south to Bermuda to procure gunpowder for use by the colony and, on the return voyage, transported naval recruits to Philadelphia. Upon her arrival there, his ship, Katy, was taken over by agents of the Continental Congress and was fitted out as sloop-of-war Providence. The Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For the bird, see Frigatebird. ... HMS Rose was a sixth rate frigate built in Hull, England in 1757. ... Narragansett Bay, shown in pink. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... This article needs to be wikified. ...

Naval Command

Whipple was commissioned a captain in the Continental Navy on 22 December and was given command of 24-gun frigate Columbus. During the period from 17 February to 8 April 1776, he commanded that ship during the first American Navy-Marine Corps amphibious expedition—the cruise to New Providence, in the Bahamas, to seize essential military supplies from the British garrison at Nassau. Continental Navy Jack The Continental Navy was authorized by the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The first USS Columbus was a ship in the Continental Navy. ... February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... This article is about the year 1776. ... This article is becoming very long. ... (This article is about the island in the Bahamas. ... Map of the Bahamas Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. ...

After returning north to New England, Whipple captured five British prizes before 27 March 1778, when his ship ran aground off Point Judith, Rhode Island. After stripping the ship, the captain and his crew abandoned her and escaped capture ashore. The states marked in red show New England. ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: US geography stubs | Rhode Island geography | Headlands ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ...

Next assigned to command 28-gun frigate Providence, Whipple ran the British blockade on the night of 30 April 1778, damaging HMS Lark and outrunning another Britisher during the escape. Tacking for France, Whipple's Providence crossed the Atlantic unmolested, bearing important dispatches relating to agreements between France and the American colonies, and reached Paimboeuf. After acquiring needed guns and supplies for the Continental Army, Providence and Boston sailed home to the colonies, taking three prizes en route. April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of the Earths surface. ...

Upon his return, Whipple received command of a small squadron—Providence, Ranger, and Queen of France. On one occasion in mid-July 1779, this group of ships encountered a large British convoy in dense fog off the Newfoundland Banks. Whipple concealed his guns and ran up the British flag. Like a wolf among sheep, he cut 11 prizes out of the convoy—eight of which contained spoils of war valued together at over one million dollars—easily one of the richest captures of the entire war. The first USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy and received the first official salute at sea by a foreign power. ...

Following this adventure, Whipple cruised off Bermuda before arriving at Charleston, South Carolina, on 23 December 1779. British forces threatened that key Continental port, causing the guns and crews from the Continental Navy ships in port to be moved on shore to reinforce the land batteries to repulse the expected British assault. Nickname: The Holy City, The Palmetto City, Chucktown Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights) Location of Charleston in South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35... December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ...

However, after a rugged four-month siege, the overwhelming pressure of British arms forced the Continental forces to surrender on 12 May 1780. Whipple remained a prisoner of the British until he was paroled to Chester, Pennsylvania, and he took no further part in the war. Upon the conclusion of hostilities, Whipple took up farming near Cranston, Rhode Island. May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, population 36,854 at the 2000 census. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... Location of Cranston, Rhode Island. ...

Later life

For the remainder of his life, he remained a farmer, with the exception of two spells of seafaring as master of merchantmen, first of General Washington and then of St. Clair. With the formation of the Ohio Company of Associates in 1788 and the initial westward migration into that territory, Whipple and his family became pioneers on the American frontier and were among the founders of the town of Marietta, Ohio. Granted a pension by Congress in recognition of his distinguished service in helping to win American independence, Whipple died at Marietta on 27 May 1819. Ohio Company was the name of 18th century companies organized for the colonization of the Ohio River Valley. ... Marietta is a city located in Washington County, Ohio. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Several ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Whipple in his honor. There is also a street in Barrington, Rhode Island named in his honor (Whipple Avenue). USN redirects here. ... The name USS Whipple has been borne by three ships in the United States Navy, which are listed below. ... Location of Barrington, Rhode Island. ...

References

• Whipple Family Genealogy Whipple Family Association.
• Wilson, Sally D. "Who Was Commodore Abraham Whipple?" in Revolutionary Portraits: People, Places and Events from Rhode Island's Historic Past, written by members of the Rhode Island Short Story Club. Providence, R.I.: Rhode Island Bicentennial Foundation, 1976, pp.6-15. Presented on the Internet at: <http://www.whipple.org>.

See also

List related articles in alphabetical order. Common nouns are listed first. Proper nouns follow.

• Gaspee Affair
• American Revolution

The Gaspée Affair was an important incident in the course of the American Revolution. ... The American Revolution was a political movement that in 1776 created a new nation, the United States of America, ending British control. ...

External links

• The Gaspee Virtual Archives

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge&#8212;writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others&#8212;in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS for short) is the primary reference work for the basic facts about every ship ever used by the United States Navy. ...