The USS Alfred was a 24-gun frigate originally launched in 1774 as the merchantman Black Prince, built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its construction details do not specify the builder, but it was likely constructed by John Wharton. Owned by Willing, Morris & Co., the ship was initially used for merchant trading, with John Barry serving as her master. The vessel’s design and structure were quickly adapted for military use when the Continental Congress acquired her in late 1775, renaming her Alfred in honor of the English monarch Alfred the Great. As a man-of-war, USS Alfred was rigged and reinforced under the supervision of Joshua Humphreys, who strengthened her hull, timbers, and gunports. Her armament was managed by Nathaniel Falconer. She served as the flagship of Commodore Esek Hopkins, the commander of the Continental Navy fleet, and was the first vessel to fly the "Flag of America," a precursor to the U.S. flag, hoisted by Lieutenant John Paul Jones. Alfred participated actively in early Revolutionary War operations, including the Raid of Nassau in the Bahamas in March 1776, where she helped capture Fort Montague in a bloodless amphibious assault. During her service, she engaged in several notable encounters, including chasing and attempting to capture British ships like HMS Glasgow, and raiding Nova Scotia ports, capturing supplies and vessels. Her cruise was marked by strategic missions to disrupt British shipping and gather military supplies. In 1778, USS Alfred was captured near Barbados after a battle with British warships HMS Ariadne and HMS Ceres. She was taken into Royal Navy service as HMS Alfred, a 20-gun sloop, until sold in 1782. Later records from Lloyd’s Register in 1789 list a vessel named Alfred trading between London and Jamaica, but her subsequent history remains unclear. The vessel’s service history exemplifies the early American naval efforts and the importance of adaptable, fast ships during the Revolutionary War.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.