USS Independence (1776 sloop)

USS Independence (1776 sloop) was a sloop in the Continental Navy. Acting as a dispatch boat, she was sent to France on a diplomatic mission – carrying important dispatches. While there, John Paul Jones embarked on her, and she received additional salutes to the American Republic from the French.

History
United States
Name: USS Independence
Namesake: Freedom from control by others; self-government
Builder: built in Baltimore, Maryland
Laid down: date unknown
Acquired: by the Marine Committee
In service: circa September 1776
Out of service: 24 April 1778 (wrecked)
Honors and
awards:		 received salutes to the new American Republic from a foreign nation
Fate: wrecked on the bar 24 April 1778 while attempting to enter Okracoke Inlet, North Carolina
General characteristics
Type: sloop
Displacement: not known
Length: not known
Beam: not known
Draft: not known
Propulsion: sloop sail
Speed: not known
Complement: not known
Armament: ten guns
For other ships with the same name, see USS Independence.


Continental Navy service

Independence was a Continental sloop built in Baltimore, Maryland, and purchased and fitted out by the Marine Committee.

In September 1776 she cruised under Captain John Young along the Atlantic Ocean coast to the Caribbean Sea to guard American merchant trade in the West Indies.

In mid-1777 she sailed for France, arriving at Lorient in late September with important diplomatic dispatches. She captured two prizes en route and disposed of these in France before the Royal Navy could interfere.

She was in Quiberon Bay 14 February 1778 when John Paul Jones in Ranger received the first national salute to the flag—the first official recognition of the American Republic by a foreign power. The following morning, Jones embarked in Independence and again exchanged salutes.

Wrecked on the bar

Independence soon sailed for the United States. She was wrecked on the bar 24 April 1778 while attempting to enter Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

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See also

References
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