Samuel Chew (captain)

Samuel Chew (c.1750 – 4 March 1778) was an officer in the Continental Navy.

Biography

Born in Virginia, Chew, a resident of Connecticut, was appointed by the Marine Committee 17 June 1777 to command the Continental brigantine Resistance with which he had much success against British commerce. The brigantine, carrying ten quarter-pounders, fell in with a British Letter-of-Marque (20 guns) on 4 March 1778. In the hand-to-hand struggle which ensued, Captain Chew, fighting gallantly, was killed but his ship managed to break off the battle with its superior opponent and return safely to Boston.

Namesake

USS Chew (DD-106) was named in his honor.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.