James K. Hackett was an American shipbuilder in New Hampshire in the late 18th century. He was responsible for the construction of a number of significant Revolutionary War-era warship for the fledgling country, including the USS Raleigh (1776)

USS Raleigh (1776)

USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the United States Navy in 1775. Following her capture in 1778, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Raleigh.-As USS Raleigh:...

, USS Ranger (1777)

USS Ranger (1777)

The first USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy, and received the second salute to an American fighting vessel by a foreign power The first USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy, and received the second salute to an American fighting vessel by a foreign power The...

, USS America (1782)

USS America (1782)

America was the first ship of the line built for the Continental Navy, but she never saw service there, being given to France after launching.On 9 November 1776, the Continental Congress authorized the construction of three 74-gun ships of the line...

, USS Congress (1799)

USS Congress (1799)

USS Congress was a nominally rated 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was named by George Washington to reflect a principal of the United States Constitution. James Hackett built her in Portsmouth New Hampshire and she was launched on 15 August 1799...

, USS Portsmouth (1798)

USS Portsmouth (1798)

The first USS Portsmouth was a small warship that served in the United States Navy from 1798 to 1801.Portsmouth was constructed for the new United States Navy in 1798 by master shipbuilder James Hackett at what is now Badger's Island in Kittery, Maine, directly across the Piscataqua River from...

, two cutters for the United States Revenue Cutter Service

United States Revenue Cutter Service

The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. Throughout its entire existence the Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury...

, as well as the Crescent, built for Algiers as tribute. As a teenager, he served with Rogers' Rangers

Rogers' Rangers

Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War . The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant...

during the French and Indian War. His later military service included serving as lieutenant colonel in the New Hampshire state militia during the Revolutionary War and after in several different units.