Andrew Doria's Role in the Revolutionary War

BRIGANTINE ANDREW DORIA HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

   

Admiral Andrea Doria

Named for the most celebrated 16th Century admiral Andrea Doria, the brigantine was one of four ships authorized by the Continental Congress to form the first Navy of the fledgling United States. Formerly named the Defiance, the merchant brig was converted for war by Wharton and Humphrey's Shipyard in Philadelphia during late 1775. Andrew Doria set out on its first assignment on 4 January 1776 under the command of Capt. Nicholas Biddle. Capt. Biddle guided the brigantine on a number of successful raids and captured several enemy vessels throughout 1776.

 

Captain Nicholas Biddle

Biddle was transferred to another ship in September 1776. Capt. Isaiah Robinson took command and was ordered to go to St. Eustatius to obtain munitions and military supplies. The Andrew Doria also carried a precious cargo to St. Eustatius—a copy of the Declaration of Independence. The Andrew Doria was flying a flag long expected at St. Eustatius—the Grand Union Flag—representing the newly independent Colonies. When the brigantine pulled into Oranje Bay, she fired thirteen guns in salute.

The commander of Fort Oranje consulted the governor Johannes de Graff before firing a return salute of 11 guns—the standard practice at the time to fire two less than the ship. This was a salute heard around the world. The British added this to a list of grievances against Holland that would later force them to secretly declare war in 1781. The governor of nearby St. Kitts immediately dispatched a ship to England to tell Parliament and the King the news—that Holland was the first foreign power to recognize the United States. The Andrew Doria Captained by Isaiah Robinson, represented the United States at this important event.

The Grand Union Flag

During her voyage back north after loading with arms, guns, gunpowder, and other military and civilian stores, she captured the HMS Racehorse during one of the more celebrated naval engagements of the Revolutionary War. The Andrew Doria continued to capture enemy vessels for several more months along the Atlantic Coast. By November 1777, the British fleet under Admiral Howe was threatening Philadelphia. The Andrew Doria and a number of other vessels were assigned to defend the city from attack by taking up positions in the Delaware River. However, Fort Mifflin fell by 16 November and its cannons were trained on Ft. Mercer at Red Bank, New Jersey across the Delaware. The Andrew Doria sheltered under the guns of Ft. Mercer until 20 November when the British onslaught became too much and the fortification was forced to be abandoned. The order was given for all the ships to be burned on 21 November to prevent their capture by the British. It is here that the search for the Andrew Doria and the first US Navy begin.