History of Lynx

When America was attacked on September 11, 2001, it was not the first time that she as a nation had been attacked or invaded by enemy forces. The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. were preceded by, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but also by Britain during the War of 1812. In August 1814, British forces marched on and burned many of the public buildings in our capital and again, in September, British forces attacked the city of Baltimore MD but were repulsed by elements of militia and naval personnel.

The War of 1812 has been called the Second War of American Independence -- fought to prove the first. Thomas Jefferson, when earlier asked by a student about the War of Independence fought in 1776, replied that he could talk of the War of the Revolution, but that the War of Independence had yet to be fought. That War of Independence -- of America's first defense of her freedom -- was the War of 1812. The first time, in 1776, she fought to gain her independence; the second time, in 1812, she defended it.

The Revolutionary War had not resolved all of America's grievances with Great Britain. While England resented that her military power had been defeated by her former colony -- in conjunction with her arch-enemy, France -- the invincible Royal Navy still were very much in control of the seas. Thus, she could -- and did -- restrain America's trade on the oceans of the world. In addition, England still occupied the forts she held on American soil despite the tenets of the Treaty of Paris and she continued to be actively engaged in the fur trade on the northwestern frontier.

For America to survive as an independent nation she had to have unrestricted freedom on the seas to engage in commerce with the countries of Europe, her economic lifeline. That freedom was hampered not only by the British impounding American cargoes, but also by the stopping and impressing seamen from American ships. The attitude of the Royal Navy was that these men were British who were shirking their duty to the homeland. Additionally, with their long standing war with France, England could easily accuse American ships of "trading with the enemy" and seize any ships they could catch at it. Frustrated by Britain's unwillingness to resolve these issues with America, President Madison declared war on June 18th, 1812.

Our navy, which the English newspapers dismissed as a "handful of fir-built frigates under a bit of striped bunting, manned by bastards and outlaws," consisted of 17 ships including a half dozen frigates, two brigs, and a few smaller vessels (which had seen action in the Barbary Wars some ten years previously). Shipyards quickly began building ships for the government and for private individuals to assist in dealing with the awesome might of the 1000 ship fleet of the Royal Navy.

The American treasury had not yet recovered from the expense of the Revolution and could not produce warships quickly enough to satisfy the needs of the Navy. At the same time, individuals, recognizing an opportunity for profit, sought and received commissions from the government to sail in private vessels with the purpose of taking enemy ships -- merchants, not warships. The commission was called a "letter of marque and reprisal" and allowed the private citizen to take English merchant ships, bring to them to port, sell the cargo and often the ship itself, and keep the profits. The ships were called "privateers" and because of the alacrity with which they took to the seas after the declaration of war, have been called by many the "first defense of American freedom."

With increasing numbers of these privateers roaming the seas in search of opportunities for profit, British shippers insisted on a Royal Navy escort for their convoys and took sorely needed elements of the Royal Navy away from other duties fighting American warships, blockading our coast, and escorting troop transports. It was in no small measure that this "private navy" contributed to the outcome of the War of 1812, resulting in "through the Treat of Ghent," the ability of subsequent American ships to sail freely the oceans of the world and trade with whom they pleased. Freedom and independence won.

The ships best suited for the privateering business were fore and aft rigged vessels called schooners. These rakish little ships also carried square tops'ls and were armed with six to twelve long 12-pounder cannon. Built on the model of the Baltimore pilot schooner, they were fast, maneuverable, and could easily out sail the blockading ships of the Royal Navy. They were called variously, "sharp-built" schooners, Baltimore schooners, and Baltimore clippers (though that name did not come until later). Many -- in fact most -- were built in or near Fells Point (now part of Baltimore) Maryland.

Among those first privateers to take to the seas was the tops'l schooner LYNX. Her commission was dated less than a month after the declaration war, on July 14th 1812. Built by Thomas Kemp to attack enemy merchant ships, she carried six 12-pounders and a crew of forty men. Unfortunately, she was captured at the mouth of the Rappahannock River by the British the following spring and was put into service for the Royal Navy. But her name would continue to serve the American ideal; her lines were modified and a new LYNX was built by the American Navy at the Washington Navy yard the following year. She had more ordinance than did the private vessel, but her sleek hull and rakish masts ensured that the navy schooner LYNX would be as fast and handy as her inspiration.

The nearly completed schooner was still on the stocks in the Washington Navy Yard when the British marched unopposed into our capital and burned most of the public buildings. The Navy yard, rope walk, and ammunition magazines were destroyed by our own men to preclude their falling into the hands of the enemy. But along with an old frigate, NEW YORK, a waterlogged relic of the Quasi-War with France in 1798, the LYNX survived and ultimately went to sea to serve us well until her loss with all hands in January 1820, apparently in a hurricane off Jamaica.

And she continued to inspire. On July 28th, 2001, another LYNX was launched, this time in Rockport Maine. Honoring the design and intent of the original privateer, the 2001 LYNX was built as a living history museum dedicated to "those who cherish the blessings of America." She retains the spirit of her predecessors, a spirit of resistance in the defense of American independence and freedom, becoming a visual reminder to the American resolve and determination to preserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

For further background on the ship and the 1812 era, click on the titles below and the papers will launch as .html or pdf files.

	1812 Privateers: The First Defense of American Freedom
	Privateering and National Defense: Naval Warfare for Private Profit - Sechrest
	Three Schooners Named Lynx

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