Fishermen Became America's First Navy

When George Washington needed a navy to win the American Revolution, he didn’t wait for Congress or shipyards—he turned to angry, unemployed New England fishermen. After the British banned fishing in 1775, thousands of skilled sailors took up arms, converting their fishing schooners into armed vessels. Washington personally recruited John Glover, whose boat, the Hannah, became the first of these makeshift warships. In just two days, the Hannah captured a British supply sloop. Between August and October 1775, Washington outfitted a fleet of these converted ships—seasoned sailors, not green recruits—capturing 55 British vessels and crippling enemy supply lines. This fleet, funded by Congress, is widely regarded as America’s first navy, proving that desperation and ingenuity can turn fishermen into warriors. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4dffef8e843ca26a