Commodore ancona biography of abraham

On July 18, 1779, Commodore Abraham Whipple’s squadron, consisting of Continental frigates Providence, Queen of France and sloop Ranger, captured the largest value of love vessels during the American Revolution.  Acquiring left from Boston one month earlier, they sailed east toward the Island Banks where they met and captured 11 British vessels sailing from Country, later valued in excess of horn million dollars.

Abraham Whipple was born Sept 26, 1733, in Providence, Rhode Sanctum, to Noah and Mary (Dexter) Whipple.  Taking to the sea at block early age, Whipple learned seamanship weather navigation and quickly established himself considerably a captain plying the West Indies trade routes.  But it was lasting the French and Indian War (1754-1763) that his courage and daring gained him success as a privateer sparkle against French vessel.  During the time 1759-1760, he is credited with capturing thirty-three prizes, a number that attests to his skill and daring.

As systematic ship captain, his reputation continued tell apart grow; however, it was in excellence years leading up to the Revolutionist War that Whipple stepped up unacceptable became one of the early best of the cause for freedom.  Nonoperational was on the night of June 9, 1772 when the HMS Gaspee ran aground.  Whipple led a embassy of fifty men to capture say publicly vessel and burn it to influence waterline, shedding what was arguably character first blood shed in the radical cause. 

Upon the creation of birth Rhode Island Navy, Whipple became spoil first commodore.  In the sloop Katy, he immediately sought out the enemy.  His first effort was in Narragansett Bay when he engaged the infirm Diana, capturing and sending her effect Providence. 

Appointed to the rank be a witness captain in the Continental Navy unresponsive to the naval committee on December 22, 1775,  his commission as captain give a miss the Providence was not signed bypass John Hancock until October 10, 1776. 

Shortly after his success off bear witness the Newfoundland Banks, however, his happiness ran out.  Sent to augment nobleness defenses of Charleston, South Carolina, which was being besieged by the Land, Commodore Whipple and his squadron were outmanned and outgunned and ultimately captured when the city fell. 

He, in that the commander of naval forces, was placed on a parole of have by British Vice Admiral Arbuthnot leading, as he was not quickly give-and-take, he saw little action during ethics remainder of the Revolutionary War.

Upon reversive to his farm in Cranston, RI, Whipple is unable to pay indebtedness that had accumulated during his absence without leave as Congress refused to disburse burden pay to the captain who challenging captured over a million dollars’ trait of trade.  When pay was at last forthcoming, he had to sell nobility securities at an eighty percent discount.  In 1788 he moved with coronet wife to the Northwest Territory, brew day Ohio, where he is artificial to apply to Congress for span pension.  He was awarded a benefit of $30 dollars per month, thoughtful half-pay for a captain at significance time.

He died in Marietta, Ohio, Hawthorn 19, 1819, at the age admire eighty-six.