The French frigate then sheered off to flee, and Constellation's battle-damaged rigging made it impossible for the American frigate to pursue her escaping victim. Accordingly, the engagement continued until every gun on board the Frenchman went silent. During the action, the French warship had struck her colors several times, but darkness had prevented Truxtun from seeing the signal. For the next five hours, Truxtun used superior American gunnery and the prevailing heavy seas to his advantage and, by 0100, completely overcame La Vengeance's initial broadside superiority. Christopher where she was refitted and commissioned in the United States Navy.Īlmost a year later, on 1 February 1800, he sighted the 50-gun French frigate La Vengeance, chased her all day, and finally overhauled her that evening. After an hour's fight, Constellation battered Insurgente into submission, killing 29 and wounding 44 of the French frigate's crew. On 9 February 1799, Truxtun scored the first of his two most famous victories.
The frigate, accompanied by a squadron of smaller ships, operated in the West Indies between St.
His ship, Constellation, was completed late in June and he put to sea immediately to prosecute the undeclared naval war with revolutionary France. He was assigned command of one of the new frigates then under construction. When the United States Navy was organized, he was selected as one of its first six captains on 4 June 1798. James, still under his command, carried Thomas Barclay, the American consul, to France.įollowing the Revolution, Truxtun resumed his career in mercantile service and commanded Canton, the first Philadelphia ship to enter the China trade. At a dinner to celebrate the feat, George Washington declared that Truxton's services had been worth those of a regiment. James, he landed a valuable cargo of gunpowder and military stores at Philadelphia. In addition to privateering, Truxtun's ships also carried cargoes of military stores to the colonies. Successively, he commanded Independence once more and then, in turn, Commerce and St. Upon his return, Truxtun fitted out Mars and made a highly successful cruise in the English Channel. In 1777, he fitted out Continental Navy sloop Independence and sailed her to the Azores where he took three prizes. During the remainder of 1776, Truxtun participated in the capture of several prizes off the coast of Cuba. He signed on as a lieutenant in Congress, the first privateer to be fitted out for service against Great Britain. Kitts in the West Indies, an act that caused some natural resentment in the young sea captain.īy the time Truxtun made his way back to Philadelphia, the colonies had reached the point of open rupture with the mother country. Later that year, his ship was seized by HMS Argo off St. By the age of 20, he had risen to command of Andrew Caldwell in which he brought large quantities of gunpowder into Philadelphia in 1775. However, Truxtum declined, obtained his release through the good offices of influential friends, and returned to mercantile service. Truxtun's British commanding officer observed the lad's natural abilities and offered him aid in securing a midshipman's warrant. At 16, he was pressed into service in the Royal Navy on board HMS Prudent. Two years later, at the age of 12, he embarked upon a seafaring career, sailing with Captains Joseph Holmes and James Chambers in the London trade. When his father died in 1765, young Truxtun came under the guardianship of John Troup of Jamaica, Long Island. Thomas Truxtun was born on 17 February 1755 near Hempstead, Long Island, New York.