USS Harrison (1761)

History
United States
Name:	USS Harrison
Namesake:	Benjamin Harrison, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and Governor of Virginia 1781-84.
Laid down:	date unknown
Christened:	as Triton
Completed:	1761
Acquired:	chartered 22 October 1775
In service:	October 1775
Out of service:	circa February 1776
Fate:	returned to civilian status; fate unknown
General characteristics
Class and type:	Schooner
Displacement:	not known
Length:	not known
Beam:	not known
Draft:	not known
Propulsion:	schooner sail
Speed:	not known
Complement:	not known
Armament:	4 4-pounder guns

USS Harrison (1761) was a schooner chartered and outfitted by General George Washington during the American Revolution. She was assigned to capture British supply ships as part of Washington’s plans for the siege of Boston, Massachusetts, and to provide the Continental Army with whatever goods they carried.

Chartered in 1775

Harrison, a former fishing schooner built in 1761, and named the Triton was chartered 22 October 1775 as part of the small fleet outfitted by General George Washington to capture much needed supplies and to aid him in the siege of Boston.

Capturing British supply ships

Under Captain William Colt the ship set sail from Plymouth, Massachusetts, where she had been obtained, on 26 October. Although Harrison was not sturdy or particularly seaworthy. Captain Colt succeeded in capturing two British provision ships 5 November.

Continuing her cruise against British shipping, the ship departed again 13 November 1775 and after 'being chased by frigate HMS Tartar on the 23d, brought two more prizes into port 1 December.

Decommissioning

Harrison remained at Plymouth, was frozen in by ice for a time in January, and, after making two short unproductive cruises, decommissioned.

See also

• Continental Navy
• American Revolution

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.