HMS Kingfisher (1770)

Kingfisher under Commander Montagu arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on 8 September 1775, along with Mercury under Commander Graeme and Otter under Commander Matthew Squire.[2] On 30 September 1775, the mayor and council of Norfolk wrote to Lord Dunmore about the "illegal and riotous" behaviour of the crews of Kingfisher and Otter.[3]

On 1 January 1776, she began a heavy bombardment of Norfolk along with Liverpool and Otter, setting the town on fire.[4]

In early June 1776, while enforcing the blockade of the Delaware Bay, Commander Henry Bellew of Liverpool and Commander Graeme reported to Vice Admiral Molyneux Shuldham about their encounter with the American ships Reprisal, Lexington, and Hornet.[5]

Later in the month, on the afternoon of 28 June 1776, Kingfisher spotted the American privateer Nancy sailing toward Cape May and began chase, followed by Orpheus with Commander Charles Hudson.[6] Early on the morning of 29 June 1776, Kingfisher and Orpheus resumed chase.[7] Nancy, to evade capture of her supplies of gunpowder and arms, ran aground at Turtle Gut Inlet. She was assisted by the American ships Lexington, Reprisal, and Wasp.[8] In the ensuing battle, Nancy was set on fire and exploded, killing the master's mate and six men on longboats from Kingfisher.[7] Also during 1776, Orpheus and Kingfisher captured the Adrian, which was sailing from Philadelphia to France with a cargo of tobacco, flour, bread and staves.[9]

On 27 August 1777, Kingfisher under Commander Graeme engaged the newly built 14-gun Oliver Cromwell under Captain Samuel Chace, Jr., ran her ashore, and burnt her. During the fight, the brigantine Hampden escaped.[10]

On 7 February 1778, Kingfisher under Lieutenant Hugh Christian was stationed in the Sakonnet Passage to Narragansett Bay.[11] On 30 May, Christian led the boats of the squadron, which were carrying a detachment of troops, in an attack on the saw mills on a creek near Taunton River. The attack was successful.[12]

Between 29 May and 18 July, the British captured a number of vessels: the sloops Sally and Fancy, snow Baron D'Ozell, Olive Branch, sloop Betsey, and schooner Sally. Kingfisher shared the prize money with Lark, Hope, Sphinx, and the galley Pigot.[13]

French Admiral d'Estaing's squadron arrived in Narragansett Bay on 29 July 1778 to support the American army under General George Washington during the battle of Rhode Island. As Kingfisher lay in Sakonnet Passage, Christian moved her into Foglands Bay. There she landed all her guns and stores.[14] On 30 July he and her crew abandoned her and set her on fire to prevent the French from capturing her.[15][16] The Royal Navy ended up having to destroy ten of their own vessels in all.[14]

Lieutenant Christian went on to command the armed ship Vigilant, of 20 guns and 150 men.[17]

• Clark, William Bell, ed. (1966). Naval Documents of The American Revolution, American Theatre: Sept. 3, 1775 – Dec. 7, 1775 (PDF). 2. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division/Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
• Clark, William Bell, ed. (1968). Naval Documents of The American Revolution, American Theatre: Dec. 8, 1775 – Feb. 18, 1776 (PDF). 3. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division/Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
• Crawford, Michael J., ed. (2005). Naval Documents of The American Revolution, American Theatre: January 1, 1778 – March 31, 1778 (PDF). 11. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division/Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
• Hale, Edward E. (1887). "The Naval History of the American Revolution". In Winsor, Justin (ed.). Narrative and critical history of America. VI. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co.
• Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
• Morgan, William James, ed. (1970). Naval Documents of The American Revolution, American Theatre: May 9, 1776 – July 31, 1776 (PDF). 5. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division/Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
• Morgan, William James, ed. (1986). Naval Documents of The American Revolution, American Theatre: June 1, 1777 – Sept. 30, 1777 (PDF). 9. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division/Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Winfield, Rif, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.