The final will of Captain Gustavus Conyngham is a fascinating piece of history. This piece discusses Conyngham's battle with the Serapis, His quest to find a strong witness, and his friendship with "The Philosopher."
The narrative of Captain Gustavus Conyngham's meeting with the Serapis is remarkable, as it is the first documented incidence of the American Navy destroying a Spanish ship. As a young man, Conyngham was sent to America and apprenticed to a West Indian trading captain. He quickly rose to the rank of shipmaster and was stranded in the Netherlands at the outbreak of the American Revolution. Fortunately, he received a commission from the Continental Navy commissioners in France, and he and his crew captured two ships in the Caribbean in May 1778. Unfortunately, Britain objected to this scurry of American pirates, which violated French neutrality. Conyngham and his crew were imprisoned, but the Americans were able to obtain their release. Cony returned the next day.
Conyngham, however, continued his hunt for British shipping port. In one incident, he set fire to a small tender of the 28-gun frigate Enterprise. Another incident happened when Conyngham pursued the quicker Revenge, but it sailed out of range of the mother ship's cannons. Finally, Conyngham seized five additional vessels. The loot he captured was shipped to Newburyport, Massachusetts. By this point, the French government had declared war on the United Kingdom.
Captain Gustavus Conyngham's life and struggles are the stories of a man arrested during the American Revolution. Conyngham was a captain in the Philadelphia militia, and the British authorities hoped to hang him. Fortunately, he could flee and return to Europe, where he was reunited with his wife, Anne. His wife had been in Paris, attempting to persuade Franklin not to abandon the prisoner exchange.
While serving as the American minister in France, Benjamin Franklin sought out daring, fearless men to command his boats and sailor's sloops. He also purchased vessels to harass the British in their waterways. Conyngham, anxious to support the American cause, was the right person for the post. Despite the difficulties in his quest for the commission, he continued to serve his country.
Captain Gustavus Conyngham was born in Ireland in 1747. He went to Philadelphia in 1763 and established the shipping business. He then sailed to Holland in search of supplies for the rebellious colonies. He then went to France to get a commission in the French Navy. He was then given command of the lugger Surprise, and his career as a commerce raider began.
Despite his successful pirate career, Conyngham was not adequately compensated. His command to raid British shipping led to his capture by the British. George Washington, however, rescued him from death by arranging a political prisoner swap. Conyngham then obtained an armed ship and prepared to set sail on a cruise. However, when he was away from Philadelphia, he was recognized by British ships and transported to the notorious Mill Prison. He then boarded the Hannibal, who was returning to Philadelphia.
Captain Gustavus Conyngham was born in County Donegal in 1747 and immigrated to the United States in 1763, where he met his friend and colleague, Benjamin Franklin. Conyngham, nicknamed "the Philosopher" by his friends, later joined Franklin's Continental Navy. Franklin appointed Conyngham as captain of the lugger Surprise.
Conyngham captured 24 British ships and sank 80 others during his time in the Continental Navy. His record is believed to be the finest of any Continental Navy Captain. Even though the Continental Congress rejected his commission, he continued to serve the country. Conyngham was a successful ship captain who delivered goods during the Quasi-War with the French. He also gathered cash for Philadelphia defenses before the war of 1812.
During the American Revolution, the British spied on their American friends, and the British government threatened to execute them for their crimes. Conyngham, a British spy, left British captivity and caught up with Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Franklin accompanied Conyngham on many adventures. Conyngham called Franklin "the Philosopher" owing to his intellectual tenacity. Franklin gave Conyngham several commissions in the Continental Navy, including command of the lugger Surprise. In a week, he captured two British ships, the Joseph and the Prince of Orange.
Conyngham was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1747. He came to America in 1763 and worked for his cousin Redmond in Philadelphia. Conyngham dropped out of school as a teenager to learn to sail. He later became a crucial player in the American Revolutionary War. On the other hand, his exploits at sea were met with disdain by his contemporaries, and he was frequently referred to as a pirate.
Captain Gustavus Conyngham was a returning war hero when the Continental Congress apprehended him on the ship "Pendennis." Conyngham, a war hero, refused to take orders from the Continental Congress. Congress, however, condemns his disobedience and confiscates his original commission, sending it to a French prison. His ship was also seized by the Continental Congress, which was eventually sold at a private auction.
Conyngham refused to join the British Navy and was imprisoned for high treason. But he escaped before his punishment could be carried out. He and 11 other inmates forced their way into the prison vault and dug a tunnel beneath the outer wall. While they were out, a boy whose arm had alerted the sentries to their presence advised them to flee.