Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-01-09
FOUNDER U. 5. NAVY
 BORN 200 YEARS AGO
Esek Hopkins Was First Commander of American War Fleet
 in Revolution.

Washington, D. C., Jan. S.-in these days of naval warfare in whicn the United States is actively engaged, it is not without interest to recall the fact that the year now begun will mark the two hundredth anniversary Of the birth of Esek Hopkins, who occupies conspicuous niche in naval history as commaaGer-in.cliie
 of the first American fleet of war vessels.
 There are no records of the boy hood, youth or early manhood of Esek Hopkins, beyond the bare fact that he was born at Scituate, R. l., ill 171S. But ne must have been d man ot ability. and had an interest ill public affairs, for when he was 34 he was placed in charge of the Providence schoolhouSe, and had the appointing of the school master. Gov ernor Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Is land, who was d siSner of the Dec laration of Independence, was his brother.
 Rhode Island took active measures to protect herself when the revolu- tionary war began. Among the works for defense was the erection of a powerful battery at Fox Point, in Narragansett bay, and EseK Hopkins
 was placed in command of this on April 20. 1775. The British forces had intended to attack Providence, but the plan was abandoned on ac- count of the excellent plans made to l defend the city.
 1 Hopkins was one of the men ap- ] pointed to build a floating battery, to i organize fleet of fire ships, and to
 stretch heavy chain across the l channel. When it became evident
 the coast towns of New England
 must be protected from the British
 naval forces, fleet of war vessels
 was fitted out, and Esek Hopkins
 was appointed by congress the com
 naval rank that corresponded tO
 Washington's in the commend of the
 land forces, and in the naval records
 of those days he was styled lad
 miral."
 As the earliest section of the United States navy, a great interest attaches to the movements of this fleet There were four vessels: The Alfred, the Columbus, the Andrea---named fol the famous Genoese admiral-and the Cabot. which was commanded by tho
 son of Esek Hopkins.
 Admiral Hopkins general.
 known as the "Commodore"-
 his vessels to Philadelphia. where
 the Lexington and the Hornet ano
 the Wasp were added to the fleet On February IT. 1776, Commodor,
 Hopkins sailed for Bermuda -an(
 vigorously attacked Fort Providence This was the first real action O the American navy, and it vas a bril- liant and successful one. Three hun dred men were landed. their move
 ments protected by the guns of tht fleet. The men were known as ma rines. which fact has given title t, the Marine Corps as being the old est branch of the United States mili tary establishment. The men car tured the governor of tho Rermudas
 together with other high officials took one hundred guns. a large quan tity Of military stores. and then start ed back for New London, Conn., On this homeward voyage tw British vessels were captured. an upon his arrival congress gave ott cial thanks to Commodore Hopkins But disaster was in stQr" for thi officer. He attacked the large Bri ish ship Glasgow, and after q stiff battle of some hours she got ava under cover of night.
 Bitter feeling was manifested to ward Hopkins. and charges wer preferred against him. At this tria John Adams defended him, and h
 was declared innocent. One of tn
 letters ot congratulations he receive
 after his acquittal was from Pau l Jones. When sent back to comman his fleet he was so long in getting [ sea that congress dismissed him tror the service January ,, 1T71. Subsequent events in the life ( Esek Hopkins proved that he was brave and devoted patriot. His deat
 occurred in Providence i'll 1892. l -------------------