Hector McNeill
Encyclopedia
Hector McNeill was the third ranking officer in the Continental Navy
during the American Revolutionary War
.
, Ireland
. As a child he immigrated to Boston
, Massachusetts
. He worked as a merchant marine
, leasing out his schooner
Lawrence to the English for use as a troop ship during the Seven Years' War
. During this conflict he was captured by French aligned Indians while operating off the coast and interned by the French at Quebec
. After a prisoner exchange he was able to acquire another ship and worked in the New England coastal trade.
demanded he either join the militia for the British or leave the colony. McNeill left and was soon transporting supplies to the American army's invasion of Canada
under General Benedict Arnold
. McNeill continued in this role for several months until British reinforcements caused the Americans to retreat from Canada.
lobbying for a Captain's commission in the Continental Navy. He was granted the position on June 15 and installed as its third-ranking captain. He was given command of the new frigate which was outfitted at Newburyport, Massachusetts. After a year preparing the ship to be battle-worthy and finding a crew, the Boston joined another new frigate the to form a squadron under the command of the Navy's second ranking officer Captain John Manley
. Personality conflicts often arose between McNeill and Manley, in part due to the scarcity of supplies and available crew.
On July 7, 1776 Manly sailed ahead of the rest of the squadron and encountered British Captain George Collier
's and the . Due to disciplined training, the British easily bested the American squadron. Manly would have been able to escaped the slower ships, but due to heavy cargo in the forward holds of the Hancock the bow dipped, slowing the craft. After a 39 hour chase, the British seized the American ships Hancock and Fox on July 9. McNeill did not support Manley during his flight, instead withdrawing to the safety of the Sheepscot River
, Maine
.
for Massachusetts, commanding the Pallas and Adventure.
Continental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. Through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron, John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, the fleet cumulatively became relatively...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Early life and Seven Years War
On October 10, 1738 McNeill was born in County AntrimCounty Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. As a child he immigrated to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He worked as a merchant marine
Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
, leasing out his schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Lawrence to the English for use as a troop ship during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. During this conflict he was captured by French aligned Indians while operating off the coast and interned by the French at Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. After a prisoner exchange he was able to acquire another ship and worked in the New England coastal trade.
Beginning of American Revolution
Before the beginning of the American Revolution, McNeill was living in British-held Quebec. When war began Governor-General Guy CarletonGuy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
demanded he either join the militia for the British or leave the colony. McNeill left and was soon transporting supplies to the American army's invasion of Canada
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
under General Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. McNeill continued in this role for several months until British reinforcements caused the Americans to retreat from Canada.
Naval Service
In June 1776, McNeill went before the Continental CongressContinental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
lobbying for a Captain's commission in the Continental Navy. He was granted the position on June 15 and installed as its third-ranking captain. He was given command of the new frigate which was outfitted at Newburyport, Massachusetts. After a year preparing the ship to be battle-worthy and finding a crew, the Boston joined another new frigate the to form a squadron under the command of the Navy's second ranking officer Captain John Manley
John Manley (naval officer)
John Manley was an officer in the Continental Navy and the United States Navy.-Early life:Tradition holds that John Manley was born in 1733 near Torquay, Devonshire, in south west England. As a young man, he settled in Marblehead, Massachusetts, eventually becoming the captain of a merchant...
. Personality conflicts often arose between McNeill and Manley, in part due to the scarcity of supplies and available crew.
Combat
On May 21, 1777 the squadron fought in the Grand Banks, by June 8, 1777 they took hold of the . During the 90 minute battle, Manley's ship had done most of the fighting but McNeill was able to position his ship in order to take possession of the 24-gun British frigate. Manley ordered McNeill to relinquish command of the Fox to his crew, causing further animosity between them.On July 7, 1776 Manly sailed ahead of the rest of the squadron and encountered British Captain George Collier
George Collier
Sir George Collier was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars. As commander of the frigate HMS Rainbow, he was one of the most successful British naval commanders during the opening stages of war...
's and the . Due to disciplined training, the British easily bested the American squadron. Manly would have been able to escaped the slower ships, but due to heavy cargo in the forward holds of the Hancock the bow dipped, slowing the craft. After a 39 hour chase, the British seized the American ships Hancock and Fox on July 9. McNeill did not support Manley during his flight, instead withdrawing to the safety of the Sheepscot River
Sheepscot River
The Sheepscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Its lower portion is a complex island estuary with connections to the Kennebec River downstream of Merrymeeting Bay.-Route:...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
Court-Martial and privateering
McNeill remained in Maine for a month, while criticism of his leadership continued to grow. After a prisoner exchange released Manley, both men were court-martialed with the result for McNeill being dismissal from the Navy without ceremony. For the rest of the war he acted as a privateerPrivateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
for Massachusetts, commanding the Pallas and Adventure.