The Origins of the United States NavyThe United States Navy was not actually born until 1794, well after the Revolutionary War had ended. By 1785, the Continental Navy had been disbanded for lack of funds under the Articles of Confederation. Former captains and sailors became crews of merchantmen or joined state navies, or became privateers. As the 1780s wore on, more and more American ships became victims of British blockades or privateers, as both countries sought to capture the trade in the West and East Indies. Likewise American ships in the Mediterranean fell prey to the pirates of the Barbary Coast.
At last, the new U.S. government decided that America should have a standing navy. It commissioned six frigates: the Constitution, United States, Constellation, Congress, Chesapeake, and President. The first three of these were finished and launched in 1797; the last was completed by 1800. Today, the USS Constitution still stands in Boston harbor, remaining afloat after nearly 210 years.
In Perils of the Heart, the hero, Austin Blackwell, had been a lieutenant in the Continental Navy, then turned to captaining a merchant ship, which explored various new trade ports both in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
For more information on US Naval history and US ships, see these sites:
US Naval Historical Center
Historic Naval Ships Association
History of the United States Navy
Duties of Officers of Ships of War, 1797
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