Gustavus Conyngham
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Gustavus Conyngham (about 1744 – 27 November 1819) was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a merchant sea captain, officer in the Continental Navy and a privateer.
[edit] Service in the Revolution
Conyngham worked for the Philadelphia merchant firm of Conyngham and Nesbitt, commanding the merchant brig Charming Peggy in 1775. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, the Secret Committee of the Continental Congress commissioned the Charming Peggy to France to load "powder, saltpeter, arms, medicines, and everything necessary for War." His activities were common knowledge; thus when Conyngham departed, the Royal Navy easily captured the ship. However, Conyngham and his crew retook the ship and sailed her for a Dutch port where she was immediately seized.
Conyngham sought and, on 1 March 1777, obtained a captain's commission from Benjamin Franklin in the Continental Navy. Conyngham met up with American agent William Hodge in Dunkirk, where the pair selected and purchased the merchantman Admiral Pocock for 12,000 livres. Renaming her the Surprise), he captured two British merchantmen within the first week of cruising. However, the prizes were sent to the neutral port of Dunkirk where French authorities promptly confiscated the vessels and returned them to British hands, summarily seizing the Surprise and selling her. British authorities demanded custody of Conyngham who was held by the French for a short period, but was released.
Soon afterward, Conyngham was again with agent Hodge surveying prospective ships, this time selecting the cutter Greyhound. Greyhound was renamed Revenge and armed with 14 guns. Once again the neutrality of French ports were called into question, initiating demands that Conyngham agree to sail his vessel back to the United States, which Conyngham nominally agreed to. However, on 17 July, 1777, the Revenge sneaked away from Dunkirk to raid British shipping. Cruising over the northern tip of Scotland and down the Irish Sea into the Atlantic, 20 ships were captured or destroyed.
Now, Conyngham looked to a new port and country of call, namely Spain. Once again, the captain proved lucky and successful taking prizes in the approximate range of 20. However, Conyngham made the mistake of capturing the neutral Swedish merchantman Henrica Sophia. The Spanish court condemned the flagrant disregard of international maritime law, causing the Revenge to head for West Indian waters where Conyngham took five prizes.
In January 1779, the Marine Committee within the Continental Congress ordered Conyngham to appear before them in Philadelphia on charges of haphazard law infringement and, worse, not paying his crew. Faced with bad bookkeeping, Conyngham appeared guilty of the charges lodged, leading to the auctioning of the Revenge. But the new owner was Conyngham and Nesbitt, his old firm of merchant employ. As the captain of the new privateer, sadly for Conyngham, the Revenge was captured not long out by the British frigate Galatea. The British accused Conyngham of operating as commander of the Surprise without a commission, a charge Conyngham could not refute as his commission had been seized by the French along with the Surprise herself. So, the British jailed him in Mill Prison in England. In November 1779, Conyngham and 50 American prisoners escaped by tunneling, after which he met up with John Paul Jones of the Continental ship Alliance (36). Conyngham made his way back to Spain where he attempted to gain passage home on the tartar "Experiment", but the ship was likewise captured, sending the unfortunate Conyngham back to Mill Prison.
He was finally released in June 1781 and remained unemployed for the duration of the Revolution.
[edit] 1782-1819
He returned to the merchant service and commanded the armed brig Maria during the Quasi-War with France.
As a member of the Common Council of Philadelphia, he assisted in the defense of that city during the War of 1812.
Captain Conyngham died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was interred at St. Peter's Churchyard.
Three ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Conyngham for him.
