 1718 - 1802 (83 years) Submit Photo / Document
Has 14 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
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| Name |
Esek Hopkins |
| Prefix |
Commodore |
| Birth |
26 Apr 1718 |
Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
26 Feb 1802 |
Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Initiatory (LDS) |
13 Jun 1919 |
SGEOR |
| FamilySearch ID |
279W-3K5 |
| Burial |
North Burial Ground, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Person ID |
I31086 |
mytree |
| Last Modified |
25 Feb 2024 |
| Father |
William Hopkins, Jr, b. Abt 1682, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States d. 29 Oct 1738, Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States (Age 56 years) |
| Mother |
Ruth Wilkinson, b. 31 Jan 1686, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States d. 1731, Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States (Age 44 years) |
| Marriage |
2 Jan 1703 |
Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Family ID |
F12265 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Event Map |
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 | Birth - 26 Apr 1718 - Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
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 | Death - 26 Feb 1802 - Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
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 | Initiatory (LDS) - 13 Jun 1919 - SGEOR |
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 | Burial - - North Burial Ground, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
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| Notes |
- Esek Hopkins was the first commander of the U.S. Navy.
He was born in what is now Scituate, Rhode Island, on 26 April 1718. H i s brother, Stephen Hopkins, was a member of the Naval Committee of th e Co ntinental Congress.
Prior to the American Revolution, Hopkins was a sea captain and mercha n t adventurer. He commanded a privateer in the French and Indian War (17 54 -1760). He was appointed a captain at the start of the American Revolu tio n, and brigadier general in the Rhode Island forces.
On 5 November 1775, the Naval Committee appointed him Commander in Chi e f of the Continental Navy’s fleet, consisting of eight merchant ships t ha t had been altered as men of war in Philadelphia. On 5 January 1776, t h e Naval Committee issued sailing orders to Hopkins to proceed, if win d an d weather permitted, to Chesapeake Bay and engage the British fleet . If s uccessful, he was to sail to Rhode Island and attack the British f orces t here. The fleet assembled in the Delaware River, but the missio n was dela yed due to ice until 17 February, at which time he sailed fo r Nassau in t he Bahamas.
Hopkins’ fleet made an attack on a British colony in Nassau on 17 Februa r y 1776. The effort was successful and resulted in the capture of a lar g e number of guns and ammunition, as well the capture of the Governor a n d Lieutenant Governor, whom he took prisoner. This was the first amphib io us assault by the U.S. Marines and Sailors landed in “a bold stroke, w ort hy of an older and better trained service,” The fleet captured two Br itis h vessels, but failed to capture a third (Glasgow). John Hancock, Pr eside nt of the Continental Congress, wrote Hopkins: “I beg leave to cong ratula te you on the success of your Expedition. Your account of the spir it an d bravery shown by the men affords them [Congress] the greatest sat isfact ion . . .”
Nonetheless, Hopkins received harsh criticism for his failure to captu r e Glasgow, and he was also accused of disobedience to orders. He was de fe nded by John Adams, but was nonetheless censured by Congress on 16 Aug us t 1776, suspended on 26 March 1777, and was dismissed from the Nav y o n 2 January 1778. He continued to serve on the Rhode Island General A ssem bly through 1786.
Hopkins died on the farm on which he retired in Providence, Rhode Islan d , on 26 February 1802.
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Has 14 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
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