Gustavus Conyngham

1744 (age 75)

County Donegal, Ireland

Conyngham came to America in 1763 and started to work for his cousin Redmond Conyngham, who founded the shipping house of Conyngham and Nesbitt in Philadelphia. Going to sea, he learned navigation on board one of his cousin’s vessels, and within a few years was given the command of another, the ship Molly. In September 1775, he sailed from Philadelphia as master of the brig Charming Peggy, for Europe, with a cargo of flax-seed, intending to return with a ship-load of military supplies. The desired articles were purchased in Holland, but unfortunately the British consul in Ostend was informed of their character and prevailed upon the Dutch government to prevent the sailing of the Charming Peggy. Conyngham was stranded in Europe, but being of a resourceful character was not long unemployed. On March 1, 1777 the American commissioners in Paris, filling out one of the blank commissions of the Continental Congress, appointed him to the command of the American lugger Surprise, and two months later he sailed from Dunkirk on a cruise. Within a few days he returned to port with two valuable prizes, the British packet Prince of Orange and the brig Joseph, with a cargo of wine, lemons, and oranges. As the result of a protest made by the British ambassador in Paris, the French government seized the Surprise, released the prizes, and arrested the American commander and his crew. Conyngham soon obtained his release, however, and on July 16 sailed on another cruise, under a new commission from the American commissioners, appointing him captain and commander of the Continental cutter Revenge. He cruised in the North and Irish seas and in the Atlantic Ocean, taking many prizes, burning some, and sending others into Spanish ports. This bold adventuring into waters where British supremacy had been seldom challenged caused much excitement in London, greatly alarmed the coast towns, increased the cost of insurance, and made the name of Conyngham to be more dreaded than had been that of Thurot, the famous French corsair, in the Seven Years’ War. Prints were issued in London and Paris caricaturing him. One of these represented him as a ferocious pirate of gigantic and powerful frame, with a belt full of pistols, and in the right hand a sword of great size. The legend beneath it described the American captain as “la terreur des Anglais. " During the early part of 1778 Conyngham cruised with much success out of Spanish ports. One of his cruises extended as far as the Azores and the Canary Islands. Finally, owing to British protests, the Spanish government became less hospitable and Conyngham sailed for the West Indies. Off St. Eustatius he captured two British privateers, with valuable cargoes. Turning his prow homeward, he arrived in Philadelphia on Feb. 21, 1779, with a ship-load of military supplies. In eighteen months he had taken sixty prizes. The Revenge was now sold to some Philadelphia merchants, fitted out as a privateer, and sent to sea with Conyngham in command. Leaving the Delaware" he sailed for a cruise off New York and soon after arriving at his cruising grounds, was captured April 27, 1779, by the British naval vessel Galatea and later imprisoned in the “condemned dungeon. ” In the following July he was sent to England in irons and confined first in Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, and later in Mill Prison, Plymouth. As a punishment for what the British chose to regard as piratical depredations on their commerce, his confinement was made unusually severe. At first put in irons, often lodged at night in the “black hole, ” and at no time supplied with proper and sufficient food, he underwent sufferings from which he never fully recovered. The Continental Congress retaliated by subjecting an officer of the Royal Navy to close confinement in the American prison in Boston. Twice Conyngham attempted to escape. Finally, on November 3, 1779, he made a third attempt and succeeded in digging his way out of Mill Prison —“committing treason through his Majesty’s earth, ” as he expressed it. Reaching London he found friends and money, went to Holland, and at Texel embarked on the Alliance, flagship of John Paul Jones, which after a cruise put into Corunna. Here Conyngham took passage for America on board the Experiment. On March 17, 1780, this vessel fell into the hands of the enemy and shortly the adventurous captain once more found himself within the confines of Mill Prison. A year elapsed before he was exchanged. He was preparing at Nantes for a cruise in the ship Layona when the news of peace arrived. After the Revolution Conyngham returned to the merchant service. He tried to reenter the navy, but failed. He petitioned Congress for compensation for his Revolutionary services, but his prayer was not granted. During the War of 1812 as a member of the Common Council of Philadelphia he assisted in the defense of that city.

Gustavus Conyngham Edit Profile

merchant naval officer

Background

Gustavus Conyngham was born about 1744 in County Donegal, Ireland. He was the son of Gustavus Conyngham and his wife, the daughter of Gabriel Conyngham. The family was a landed one, of gentle origin, having descended from William Cunningham, fourth earl of Glencairn, in the peerage of Scotland.

Education

As a child of a privileged family, Gustavus was either home schooled by a private tutor or at an established Church of England school.

Career

Conyngham came to America in 1763 and started to work for his cousin Redmond Conyngham, who founded the shipping house of Conyngham and Nesbitt in Philadelphia. Going to sea, he learned navigation on board one of his cousin’s vessels, and within a few years was given the command of another, the ship Molly. In September 1775, he sailed from Philadelphia as master of the brig Charming Peggy, for Europe, with a cargo of flax-seed, intending to return with a ship-load of military supplies. The desired articles were purchased in Holland, but unfortunately the British consul in Ostend was informed of their character and prevailed upon the Dutch government to prevent the sailing of the Charming Peggy. Conyngham was stranded in Europe, but being of a resourceful character was not long unemployed.

On March 1, 1777 the American commissioners in Paris, filling out one of the blank commissions of the Continental Congress, appointed him to the command of the American lugger Surprise, and two months later he sailed from Dunkirk on a cruise. Within a few days he returned to port with two valuable prizes, the British packet Prince of Orange and the brig Joseph, with a cargo of wine, lemons, and oranges. As the result of a protest made by the British ambassador in Paris, the French government seized the Surprise, released the prizes, and arrested the American commander and his crew.

Conyngham soon obtained his release, however, and on July 16 sailed on another cruise, under a new commission from the American commissioners, appointing him captain and commander of the Continental cutter Revenge. He cruised in the North and Irish seas and in the Atlantic Ocean, taking many prizes, burning some, and sending others into Spanish ports. This bold adventuring into waters where British supremacy had been seldom challenged caused much excitement in London, greatly alarmed the coast towns, increased the cost of insurance, and made the name of Conyngham to be more dreaded than had been that of Thurot, the famous French corsair, in the Seven Years’ War.

Prints were issued in London and Paris caricaturing him. One of these represented him as a ferocious pirate of gigantic and powerful frame, with a belt full of pistols, and in the right hand a sword of great size. The legend beneath it described the American captain as “la terreur des Anglais. "

During the early part of 1778 Conyngham cruised with much success out of Spanish ports. One of his cruises extended as far as the Azores and the Canary Islands. Finally, owing to British protests, the Spanish government became less hospitable and Conyngham sailed for the West Indies. Off St. Eustatius he captured two British privateers, with valuable cargoes. Turning his prow homeward, he arrived in Philadelphia on Feb. 21, 1779, with a ship-load of military supplies. In eighteen months he had taken sixty prizes. The Revenge was now sold to some Philadelphia merchants, fitted out as a privateer, and sent to sea with Conyngham in command.

Leaving the Delaware" he sailed for a cruise off New York and soon after arriving at his cruising grounds, was captured April 27, 1779, by the British naval vessel Galatea and later imprisoned in the “condemned dungeon. ” In the following July he was sent to England in irons and confined first in Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, and later in Mill Prison, Plymouth. As a punishment for what the British chose to regard as piratical depredations on their commerce, his confinement was made unusually severe.

At first put in irons, often lodged at night in the “black hole, ” and at no time supplied with proper and sufficient food, he underwent sufferings from which he never fully recovered. The Continental Congress retaliated by subjecting an officer of the Royal Navy to close confinement in the American prison in Boston. Twice Conyngham attempted to escape. Finally, on November 3, 1779, he made a third attempt and succeeded in digging his way out of Mill Prison —“committing treason through his Majesty’s earth, ” as he expressed it. Reaching London he found friends and money, went to Holland, and at Texel embarked on the Alliance, flagship of John Paul Jones, which after a cruise put into Corunna.

Here Conyngham took passage for America on board the Experiment. On March 17, 1780, this vessel fell into the hands of the enemy and shortly the adventurous captain once more found himself within the confines of Mill Prison. A year elapsed before he was exchanged. He was preparing at Nantes for a cruise in the ship Layona when the news of peace arrived.

After the Revolution Conyngham returned to the merchant service. He tried to reenter the navy, but failed. He petitioned Congress for compensation for his Revolutionary services, but his prayer was not granted. During the War of 1812 as a member of the Common Council of Philadelphia he assisted in the defense of that city.

Achievements

Gustavus Conyngham became prominent for fighting British during the American Revolutionary War. He captured 24 ships in the eastern Atlantic between May 1777 and May 1778. For his contributions to the United States, three destroyers of the U. S. Navy were named in his honor.

Works

Letters and Papers Relating to the Cruises of Gustavus Conyngham - A Captain of the Continental Navy 1777-1779 Letters and Papers Relating to the Cruises of Gustavus Conyngham - A Captain of the Continental Navy 1777-1779

book
- Letters and Papers Relating to the Cruises of Gustavus Conyngham - A Captain of the Continental Navy 1777-1779
  (This classic book contains letters and papers relating to...)

Connections

In 1773 Conyngham marrired Ann (Hockley) Conyngham.

Father:: Gustavus Conyngham
Spouse:: Ann (Hockley) Conyngham

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