America in 1775 was on the verge of revolution-or, more likely, disastrous defeat. After England's King George sent hundreds of ships to bottle up American harbors and prey on American shipping, John Adams of Massachusetts proposed a bold solution: The Continental Congress should raise a navy.
The idea was mad. The Royal Navy was the mightiest floating arsenal in history, and the British were confident that His Majesty's warships would quickly bring the rebellious Colonials to their knees. But they were wrong. America's sailors became formidable warriors, matching their wits, skills, and courage against the best of the British fleet. Victories led by captains such as John Barry, Nicholas Biddle, and James Nicholson gave the patriots hope, while, along the British coastline, daring raids by John Paul Jones and the 'Dunkirk Pirate,' Gustavus Conyngham, sent fear throughout England. In the end, the adventures of men on both sides of the struggle contributed greatly to American independence.
