Birthplace of the U.S. Navy
 On
June 12, 1775, about two miles off-shore near Round Island,
the first naval battle of the American Revolution took place.
This was the first instance of armed naval combat between
Americans and a foreign power, and as such, the United States
Navy considers Machias one of the "Birthplaces of the
U.S. Navy."
Captain Ichabod Jones, a leading citizen of the town had
been allowed by British Admiral Graves to bring provisions
from Boston in his vessel, the Unity, on condition that he
return with lumber which was much needed by the British army
for the construction of barracks. To ensure the arrangement
being carried out, he was accompanied by a small tender, the
Margaretta, commanded by Midshipman Moore.
The town, being in great need of provisions and under the
guns of the tender, agreed to the terms, but Captain Jones
refused to sell provisions to those who had voted against
allowing him to carry off the lumber. Angered at his conduct,
some of the leading patriots sent to the neighboring settlements
for help, and after an unsuccessful attempt to capture Jones
and Moore while attending church, attacked the tender. There
was some shooting without injury on either side, and next
morning the Margaretta made off.
What followed is thus described in a letter written two days
later to the Massachusetts Congress by the Machias committee
of correspondence:
About forty men, armed with guns, swords, axes, &
pitch forks, went in Capt. Jones's sloop [Unity], under the
command of Capt. Jeremiah O'Brien; about twenty, armed in
the same manner & under the command of Capt. Benjamin
Foster, went in a small schooner. During the Chase, our people
built them breastworks of pine boards, and anything they could
find in the Vessells, that would screen them from the enemy's
fire. The Tender, upon the first appearance of our people,
cut her boats from the stern, & made all the sail she
could-but being a very dull sailor, they soon came up with
her, and a most obstinate engagement ensued, both sides determined
to conquer or die; but the tender was obliged to yield, her
Captain was wounded in the breast with two balls, of which
he died next morning; poor Avery was killed, and one of the
marines, and five wounded. Only one of our men was killed
and six wounded, one of which is since dead of his wounds.
Since 1775, the Unites States Navy has named five different
ships the Jeremiah O'Brien in honor of the leader
of this first naval victory.
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