The first ''USS Franklin'' was a schooner in the Continental Navy during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. She was named for

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

. ''Franklin'' was originally a Marblehead fishing vessel fitted out by order of Colonel

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

in 1775. She was part of the fleet of schooners under Commodore

John Manley John Paul Manley (born January 5, 1950) is a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the eighth deputy prime minister of Canada from 2002 to 2003. He served as Liberal Member of Parliament for Ottawa South from 1988 to ...

that captured numerous British vessels. In October 1775, ''

Hancock Hancock may refer to: Places in the United States * Hancock, Iowa * Hancock, Maine * Hancock, Maryland * Hancock, Massachusetts * Hancock, Michigan * Hancock, Minnesota * Hancock, Missouri * Hancock, New Hampshire ** Hancock (CDP), New Hampshir ...

'' and ''Franklin'' were ordered to intercept two brigs as they arrived in the

St. Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connecting ...

from England. But the two schooners instead sought easier quarry off

Cape Canso Cape Canso is a headland located at the eastern extremity of the Nova Scotia peninsula in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime ...

where five prizes of dubious legality were taken. They also raided Charlottetown settlement without regard to orders to respect

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

property. The story of their illegal actions reached General Washington who dismissed both ship commanders and returned their prizes to Canadian owners with apologies. On May 17, 1776, commanded by Capt.

James Mugford James Mugford (May 19, 1749 – May 19, 1776) was a captain in the Continental Navy. Life and naval career Mugford commanded the schooner ''Franklin'' in the Continental Navy, serving through 1775 in John Manley's squadron off Boston. He captu ...

, the ''Franklin'' surprised and captured the British ordnance ship, ''Hope'', which was headed to Nantasket Roads in

Boston Harbor Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeastern United States. History ...

carrying 1,500 barrels of gunpowder, 1,000 carbines and other material. Mugford ran ''Hope'' to shore at or near Boston to offload the cargo, which was badly needed by the Continental Army. Then, on May 19, ''Franklin'' set sail again in company with a privateer, ''Lady Washington'' under Captain Cunningham. With the tide against them, Mugford anchored for the night near Nantasket, Massachusetts. At daybreak thirteen launches from the British fleet approached, anxious for revenge for the taking of the ''Hope''. The Americans managed to sink five launches on approach, then, in close combat in which Mugford was killed by a musket ball, the ''Franklin'' was run ashore to set up defenses, after which the launches were repelled. The British lost seventy of about 200 men, and Mugford was the only American killed in the engagement. ''Franklin'' was returned to her original owner later in 1776.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin (1775) Schooners of the United States Navy Ships of the Continental Navy 1775 ships Ships named for Founding Fathers of the United States