Esek Hopkins (April 26, 1718 – February 26, 1802) was an American privateer, politician and military officer. He served as the only commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War, when the Continental Congress appointed him to the position in December 1775. Hopkins is known for carrying out the successful raid of Nassau in the Bahamas, which captured large amounts of military supplies. His legacy today has become controversial due to Hopkins' involvement in the Atlantic slave trade.
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Early life and career
Hopkins was born in Scituate, Rhode Island into one of the most prominent families of colonial Rhode Island. At age 20 he went to sea and rapidly came to the fore as a good sailor and skillful trader. Before the American Revolutionary War he had sailed to nearly every quarter of the Earth and had commanded a privateer in the French and Indian War. In the interval between voyages, he was engaged in Rhode Island politics, served as a deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly and rendered efficient support to his brother Stephen, who became governor in 1755.
In September 1764, Hopkins took command of the slave ship Sally, which was owned by Nicholas Brown Sr. Hopkins had no prior experience in operating a slave ship, and the 15-month voyage resulted in the deaths of 109 out of 196 slaves embarked at West Africa. In late 1765, Sally arrived at its first trading destination in the West Indies, but the surviving African captives were in such poor health that most sold for very little. Hopkins' disastrous command of Sally contributed to Moses Brown's turn against participation in the Atlantic slave trade.
Revolutionary War service
Hopkins was appointed as brigadier general in the Rhode Island militia and commander of all military forces in the state on October 4, 1775. He began to strengthen Rhode Island's defenses with the help of his deputy, William West. On December 22 Hopkins was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy at the rank of the commodore; the navy had been established by the Continental Congress to protect American commerce. On January 5, 1776, Congress gave Hopkins his orders:
"You are instructed with the utmost diligence to proceed with the said fleet to sea and if the winds and weather will possibly admit of it to proceed directly for Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and when nearly arrived there you will send forward a small swift sailing vessel to gain intelligence....If...you find that they are not greatly superior to your own you are immediately to enter the said bay, search out and attack, take or destroy all the naval force of our enemies that you may find there. If you should be so fortunate as to execute this business successfully in Virginia you are then to proceed immediately to the southward and make yourself master of such forces as the enemy may have both in North and South Carolina...Notwithstanding these particular orders, which it is hoped you will be able to execute, if bad winds, or stormy weather, or any other unforeseen accident or disaster disenable you so to do, you are then to follow such courses as your best Judgment shall suggest to you as most useful to the American cause and to distress the Enemy by all means in your power."
Hopkins took command of eight merchantmen that had been converted into warships at Philadelphia. After much deliberation about taking on the overwhelming British forces listed in his orders, Hopkins utilized the last portion of his orders. He sailed south on February 17 for the first U.S. fleet operation that took the fleet to Providence in the Bahamas. He felt that it would be much more advantageous to seize a prize for the Continental Army than take a chance of destroying the Continental Navy in its infancy. He knew that the British port in Nassau would be poorly guarded and had Patriot sympathizers there who would help his cause.
The raid of Nassau carried out on March 3, was the first U.S. amphibious landing. Marines and sailors landed in "a bold stroke, worthy of an older and better trained service," capturing munitions desperately needed in the War of Independence. The little fleet returned to New London on April 8, having made prizes of two British merchantmen and a six-gun schooner, while failing to capture but severely damaging HMS Glasgow on April 6.
Post-Revolution
In spite of his Congressional dismissal, Hopkins was highly respected in Rhode Island and continued to serve the Rhode Island General Assembly through 1786, then retired to his farm where he died February 26, 1802. His home, the Esek Hopkins House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Legacy
Hopkins adopted and helped to popularize the "Gadsden flag" that depicts a timber rattlesnake with 13 rattles representing the Thirteen Colonies with the phrase "Don't Tread on Me" on a yellow background. He adopted the banner as his personal flag and flew it from the mainmast of his flagship USS Alfred while he was aboard.
Three United States Navy vessels have been named USS Hopkins in his honor: two destroyers and a patrol boat. A statue of Hopkins by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson was dedicated in 1891 on the site of the former Hopkins family cemetery at Charles and Branch Street.
In 2020 the Providence School Board voted to remove Hopkins' name from Esek Hopkins Middle School, citing Hopkins' association with the slave ship Sally.
Personal life
Hopkins married Desire Burroughs (1724–1794) in November 1741. She belonged to a prosperous family of Newport, thus increasing his influence in Rhode Island. The marriage produced 9 children, including John Burroughs Hopkins (1742–1796), a participant in the Gaspee Affair, who later became a captain in the Continental Navy; and Susannah Hopkins (1756–1850), who married Jonathan Maxcy, a Baptist minister and second president of the formerly Baptist-affiliated Brown University, which was then known as the College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Hopkins was the brother of Rhode Island Governor Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and first Brown University chancellor in conjunction with the tenure of president James Manning. Hopkins was buried in the North Burial Ground of Providence, Rhode Island.