October 13
Continental Congress Creates First US Naval Force
On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution to outfit two armed vessels, establishing the Continental Navy as the colonies sought to challenge British control of the seas during the Revolutionary War.
Summary
As the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, colonial leaders faced British naval superiority that threatened supply lines and coastal towns. On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution directing the construction and outfitting of two armed vessels to intercept British munitions shipments, establishing what became the Continental Navy. This small fleet of converted merchant ships and purpose-built warships operated under congressional oversight and marked the formal birth of American naval power. Commanded initially by figures like Esek Hopkins, the force conducted raids and protected trade despite limited resources. The authorization reflected a strategic shift from land-only warfare to combined operations essential for independence.
Context
By the fall of 1775, the American colonies had been in open conflict with Britain since the clashes at Lexington and Concord in April. British forces held naval superiority, which allowed them to threaten coastal settlements, disrupt colonial trade, and deliver supplies and reinforcements to their troops. Colonial leaders initially focused on land defenses, but reports of approaching British fleets prompted Congress to reconsider maritime strategy while meeting in Philadelphia.
What Happened
The Continental Congress, acting as the central political body for the Thirteen Colonies, debated the need for naval forces amid growing concerns over British supply lines. On October 13, delegates approved a resolution directing the fitting out of two swift sailing vessels—one carrying ten carriage guns and a proportionate number of swivels with a crew of eighty—for a three-month cruise to intercept enemy transports laden with munitions and other supplies. A committee of three members was tasked with estimating costs and contracting for the work. Key advocates included Massachusetts delegate John Adams and Connecticut’s Silas Deane, who served on the emerging Naval Committee.
Aftermath
The October resolution quickly expanded. By late October, Congress authorized additional vessels, and on November 10 it called for two battalions of Marines. John Adams helped draft the first naval regulations, adopted November 28. On December 22, Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island was named commander-in-chief, with captains commissioned for the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria, and Cabot. The small fleet of converted merchant ships conducted early operations, including a 1776 raid on Nassau in the Bahamas that secured gunpowder and cannon.
Legacy
The authorization of October 13, 1775, is recognized by the United States Navy as its official founding date. Although the Continental Navy remained small and was largely disbanded after the war, it demonstrated the value of maritime power for the new nation. Its institutional framework and early experiments in combined operations influenced the permanent U.S. Navy established in 1798 and underscored the strategic necessity of sea control in American defense policy.
Why It Matters
The creation of the Continental Navy laid the institutional groundwork for the United States Navy, enabling maritime defense and commerce protection that proved vital in later conflicts and established a permanent military branch central to American strategy.
Related Questions
Why did the Continental Congress decide to create a navy in 1775?
British naval superiority threatened colonial ports and supply lines, prompting Congress to authorize vessels specifically to intercept British munitions shipments and protect American interests at sea.
Who were the first leaders of the Continental Navy?
Esek Hopkins served as the first Commander-in-Chief, with John Adams and Silas Deane playing key roles on the Naval Committee that oversaw organization and regulations.
What ships made up the initial Continental Navy fleet?
The first vessels included the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria, Cabot, and several schooners such as the Hornet, Wasp, and Fly, mostly converted merchant ships.
How does the U.S. Navy view the events of October 13, 1775?
The U.S. Navy officially recognizes October 13, 1775, as its founding date because of the Continental Congress resolution that established the Continental Navy.
What happened to the Continental Navy after the Revolutionary War?
The force was disbanded in the mid-1780s, but its experience informed the creation of the permanent United States Navy with the Department of the Navy in 1798.
Related Portfolio Site
US Military Atlas: Authorizes precursor to the United States Navy during the Revolutionary War
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Sources
- What Happened on October 13, A&E Television Networks. Accessed 2026-07-06.
- October 13 - Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed 2026-07-06.