Samuel Smedley Explained

Samuel Smedley was a ship captain and privateer during the American Revolutionary War from Fairfield, Connecticut.[1]

At age 15, Smedley was the captain of the Defence as a lieutenant of the marines.[2] He was best known for capturing the British ship Cyrus.[3] He also started the "ships' papers collection" currently located at Fairfield Historical Society's library that contains letters by Smedley dating back to the early 19th century.[4]

In his career, he captured or aided in capturing more than a dozen prizes, survived shipwreck,[5] battled Loyalists off the shore of Fairfield, twice captained privateers, and was twice captured by the British, yet was able to escape from the infamous Mill Prison in England.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Landrigan . Leslie . 2020-08-03 . Samuel Smedley, Fairfield’s Boy Commander of the Connecticut Navy . 2024-06-05 . New England Historical Society . en-us.
  2. Web site: The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive . News.google.com . 1955-01-30 . 2012-03-02.
  3. Web site: Landrigan . Leslie . 2020-08-03 . Samuel Smedley, Fairfield’s Boy Commander of the Connecticut Navy . 2024-06-05 . New England Historical Society . en-us.
  4. Web site: Ships' Papers Collection 1786–1866 (MS 36). 2 August 2007. FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY, 636 Old Post Road, Fairfield, Conn. 06430. 2015-04-01.
  5. Web site: Samuel Smedley, Connecticut Privateer . 2024-06-05 . Goodreads . en.
  6. Book: Samuel Smedley: Connecticut Privateer. Kuhl, J.. 2011. History Press. 9781609492281. 15. 2015-04-01.

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