Esek Hopkins
He led the first amphibious assault of the American Revolution, seizing vital gunpowder from the Bahamas in a daring naval raid.
1718–1802 (age 84)·Continental Navy officer and privateer·Birthday: April 26
Biography
Esek Hopkins was a Rhode Island sea captain whose life was defined by the Atlantic's twin economies of commerce and conflict. Before the Revolution, he commanded merchant and slave ships, a common but brutal trade for New England mariners. When war broke out, the Continental Congress, desperate for naval leadership, handed him the title of Commander-in-Chief of the fledgling navy. His most famous moment came in early 1776, when he led a squadron to capture Nassau, securing a huge cache of cannons and gunpowder for George Washington's army. Yet his tenure was short and contentious. Accusations of disobedience, disputes over strategy, and the harsh treatment of prisoners led to his suspension and eventual dismissal in 1778. Hopkins returned to Rhode Island, his legacy a complex tapestry of early naval daring overshadowed by the controversies of his command and his pre-war activities.
#1 When Esek Was Born
The biggest hits of 1718
Esek's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1718Born
1723Started school
1731Became a teenager
1734Could drive
1736Could vote
1739Turned 21
1748Turned 30
1758Turned 40
1768Turned 50
1778Turned 60
1788Turned 70
1798Turned 80
1802Died at 84
Key Achievements
- Appointed as the first and only Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy in 1775.
- Planned and executed the 1776 raid on Nassau, capturing crucial military supplies for the Revolutionary cause.
- Successfully brought the captured British brig HMS *Hawke* into port as one of the Continental Navy's first prizes.
- Served as a brigadier general of the Rhode Island militia prior to his naval appointment.
Did You Know?
He was the older brother of Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
After his dismissal from the navy, he served in the Rhode Island state legislature.
The USS *Hopkins*, a World War II destroyer, was named in his honor.
His home in Providence, the Esek Hopkins House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“A ship's captain follows his own charts when the admiralty's orders are foolish.”
