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Nathaniel Fanning was born in Stonington, Connecticut, the eldest of the eight sons of Gilbert and Huldah (Palmer) Fanning. He was descended in the fifth generation from Edmund Fanning, of Limerick, Ireland, who came to Pequot (New London) in 1653 after being “transplanted” in the Cromwellian confiscations.
Like his seven brothers, including Edmund, the explorer, Nathaniel went to sea at an early age, “never having had but barely a common education. ”
Most of his iife is obscure except for the years 1778-83.
He spent those five years in sea fighting, principally in privateering under Franco-American auspices, incidentally serving three terms in British prisons.
In 1778, his third privateering voyage, in the Angelica of Boston, resulted in capture and thirteen months’ detention in Forton Prison near Portsmouth.
Finally exchanged, he reached L’Orient, where he accepted a position as midshipman and private secretary to John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard.
This was a private arrangement rather than a regular naval appointment.
Fanning’s only claim to fame came as a result of the fight with the Serapis on September 22, 1779.
He was captain of the maintop, from which one man crawled out on the yard-arm and dropped a well-aimed hand grenade through an open hatch of the enemy frigate.
It exploded a large quantity of powder, killed some twenty men, and did much to bring about the American victory.
Fanning admits that as he waded around in gore after the battle, he had intimations of immortal fame.
His bravery made him a particular favorite with Jones, who recommended him to Congress for promotion.
He served under Jones in the Ariel until December 1780, then, with most of the other officers, refused to continue under his command.
He charges that Jones frequently kicked his officers and cites numerous instances of brutality, unfairness, and immorality.
Fanning thereupon drifted into French service.
During 1781, he cruised as second in command of a Morlaix privateer, spending six weeks in a British prison.
Fanning invested his profits in a cargo for the West Indies but a shipwreck left him penniless.
He became a naturalized French citizen and early in 1782 made two trips to London.
He claims that on one of these, he was sounding out the sentiment for peace, while on the other, he carried informal peace proposals from the French Court to Shelburne and others.
He made several further cruises, commanding French privateers, and on one occasion sailed straight through the British Channel Fleet pursued by a frigate.
He was captured twice again by the British but speedily released.
He finally accepted a commission as lieutenant in the French navy, but gave it up at the close of the war, when he returned to America.
During the next twenty years, Fanning seems to have lived part of the time in New York and part in Stonington.
His Narrative implies that he continued to follow the sea.
In an edition of 1808, the title was changed to Memoirs of the Life of Captain Nathaniel Fanning.
The Narrative gives the best first-hand account of the fight with the Serapis and also shows how closely French and American interests were mixed in privateering.
It reveals Jones in an unfavorable light and the tone is strongly anti-British throughout.
Fanning, it is said, would boast of his exploits by the hour whenever he could find an audience.
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He had the reputation of being a great dandy in his dress.
His picture shows a stocky figure with a round face, high cheekbones and a scowling expression.
On November 21, 1784, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Oliver Smith. They had six children, all but one of whom died in infancy.
