First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S.

American Declaration of Independance.

[Fiction:-Horatio Hornblower born]

Boats of HMS Unite (40), Cptn. Chamberlayne, captured St. François di Poale (8) from Port Hercole, then further along the coast, joined by HMS Cephalus (18), Augustus William Clifford, captured 3 merchant vessels.

27 Danish gunboats, under Lt. Jørgen C. de Falsen, attacks 4 British ships-of-the-line, 2 frigates and 2 brigs, escorting a large convoy, off the island of Hjelm. 4 gunboats are lost, while 1 British frigate and 17 merchant men are heavily damaged. 

Birth of John Paul Jones at Arbigland, Scotland.

The Battle of Negapatam. British fleet of 11 ships, under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, engaged a French fleet of 11 ships, under the Bailli de Suffren, off the coast of India.

US Congress rescinds treaties with France. Quasi War begins with Frigate Delaware capturing French privateer Croyable

Boats of HMS Porcupine (22), Cptn. Hon. Henry Duncan, at Port d'Anzo.

HMS Netley (12), Lt. Charles Burman, wrecked in the Leeward Islands

Reestablishment of US Marine Corps under the Constitution

Boats of HMS Regulus (44) captured three vessels.

HMS Conflict (12), Cptn. Henry Baker, and consorts under Ad. Sir J. B. Warren, took Portsmouth, Ocracoke Island, Anacondo (18) and Atlas (10).

HMS Resolution, Cptn. James Cook, departed from Plymouth on 3rd voyage of discovery.

HMS Egmont schooner (10) lost

Horatio Nelson's right eye injured at Calvi.

British squadron, under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, engaged Franco-Spanish squadron, under Rear-Admiral Linois, off Gibraltar as they took the captured HMS Hannibal (74) to Cadiz. In darkness HMS Superb (74), Cptn. Richard Goodwin Keats, engaged Real Carlos (112), Cptn Don J. Esquerra, with some shot hitting San Hermenegildo (112), Cptn Don J. Emparran. In the confusion the two Spanish ships engaged one another, collided and a fire spread to both resulting in their loss. Superb went on to take San Antonio (74).

HMS Aigle (36), Cptn. George Wolfe, drove Charente (20), John Sanson, and Joie (8), Benjamin Godobert, ashore in the mouth of the Gironde and burnt them.

HMS Contest (14), James Rattray, and HMS Mohawk (18) captured U.S. schooner Asp (3) up a narrow inlet called Yeacomoco Creek in the Potomac River.

The US prize vessel Greenwich captured the British whaler Seringapatam. Greenwich was commanded by Lieutenant John M. Gamble, USMC, the first Marine to command a ship.

CSS Arkansas sailed down the Yazoo River, encountering the Union gunboats Carondelet, Tyler, and Queen of the West. In the ensuing battle, Arkansas damaged the first two gunboats and made her way into the Mississippi River, where she boldly fought through the Federal fleet to find refuge at the Confederate fortress at Vicksburg.

A Russian fleet of 17 ships of the line under Admiral Samuel Greig met the Swedish fleet of 15 ships of the line under Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland, off Hogland Island, Gulf of Finland. Greig's flagship, Rostislav (100), forced the surrender of Prins Gustav (70), Vice-Admiral Gustav Wachtmeister and the Swedes disabled Vladislav (74), which also surrendered to Kronprins Gustav Adolf (62). The fighting continued for six hours, and the fleets only separated after dark with the Swedish ships beginning to run out of ammunition.

HMS Ariadne (24), Cptn. Hon. Edward King, and consorts engaged off Boulogne.

HMS Orestes (16), Thomas Browne, ran aground on the Splitter Sands off Gravelines and was burnt to prevent capture by the enemy.

HMS Charlestown (28), Cptn. Evans (Killed in Action), HMS Allegiance (24), HMS Vulture (20), Cptn. George, armed transport Vernon (14), HMS Thorn, and armed ship Little Jack (14) escorting a convoy of 18 ships engaged Astrée (38), Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, and Hermione (34), Louis-René Levassor de Latouche Tréville, off the harbour of Louisbourg. Little Jack, Thorn and three merchantmen were taken.

Boats of HMS Beaulieu (40), Cptn. Stephen Poyntz, HMS Doris (36), Cptn. John Halliday, and HMS Uranie (38), Cptn. W. H. Gage, cut out French corvette Chevrette (20) from Camerat Bay.

HMS Sir Thomas Paisley (16), Lt. Wooldridge, engaged a Spanish xebec (22) off the island of Carbera

HMS Jason (36), Cptn. Hon. John Murray, wrecked near St. Malo.

HMS Sealark (10), Lt. Thomas Warrand, captured Ville de Caen (16), Cptn. Cocket, off Start Point

22 July

USS Constellation (38) defeats 9 Corsair gunboats off Tripoli.

Battle of Cape Finisterre. Inconclusive action between British fleet under Admiral Sir Robert Calder and French fleet under Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve

23 July 

Keel of HMS Victory (100) laid down at Chatham Dockyard

HMS Princess Caroline (74), Cptn. Charles Dudley Pater, and consorts captured four Russian vessels.

Boats of HMS Fawn (18) captured Guadaloupe.

HMS Brilliant (28), Cptn. Hon. C. Paget, engaged Vertu and Regenre.

HMS Garland (28), Cptn. James Athol Wood, wrecked on the coast of Madagascar.

27 July

As the Continental brig Reprisal, Cptn. Lambert Wickes, approached St. Pierre Harbor, Martinique, she was attacked by the British sloop-of-war Shark (16). After a sharp encounter, Shark withdrew and Reprisal entered port.

First Battle of Ushant. British fleet of 30 ships of the line, under Admiral the Hon. Augustus Keppel, fought an inconclusive action against a French fleet of  29 ships, under Admiral Louis Guillouet, comte d'Orvilliers.

Frigate USS St. Lawrence, Cptn. Hugh Y. Purviance, spotted a schooner flying English colors and engaged the vessel. Fleeing, the schooner then ran up the Confederate flag and fired three shots. Returning fire, St. Lawrence hit the vessel twice, once in her bow. Survivors of the sunken vessel revealed it had been the Confederate privateer, Petrel.

HMS Martin (18), Humphry Fleming Senhouse, aground on the Crow's Shoal, attacked by 10 American gunboats.

USS President (44), John Rodgers, captures and burns British brig Alert.

William Bligh promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue.

HMS Brevdrageren gun-brig, Lt. Thomas Baker Devon, and HMS Algerine (10), Lt. John Blow, engaged three Danish brigs off Langesund, Norway

June : August