HMS Drake was a twenty-gun sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy. Originally named Resolution, she was purchased in 1777. She served in the American Revolutionary War, and on April 24, 1778, off Carrickfergus, Ireland, she fought a battle with the 18-gun sloop Ranger of the Continental Navy, commanded by Captain John Paul Jones. Forty of Drake's crew, including her captain, George Burdon, were killed, and after an hour-long engagement, Drake surrendered to the Americans. Jones was able to evade capture and deliver Drake to Brest, France as his prize on May 8, 1778. Jones’ victory was the first for any American military vessel in British waters. USS Constellation, a United States Navy sloop-of-war. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen North American colonies. ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Carrickfergus (Carraig Fhearghais, meaning Rock of Fergus, in Irish) is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. ... 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. ... Continental Navy Jack The Continental Navy was authorized by the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775. ... John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747 - July 18, 1792) was Americas first well-known naval hero in the American Revolutionary War. ... Location within France Brest, at the tip of Brittany Brest (population of the city: 146,000 inhabitants as of 2004 estimates; population of the metropolitan area: 303,484 inhabitants as of 1999 census) is a city in the Bretagne région, north-west France, subprefecture of the Finistère d... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Sources

• Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, history of USS Ranger [1]
• SeacoastNH French Buy Piscataqua Prize [2]