One of the most famous vessels of the American Navy, the Bon Homme Richard, was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. It was so named by John Paul Jones, who wished to pay a well merited compliment “to a great and good man, to whom I am under great obligations and who honors me with his friendship.”
In his brief contact with the Navy Franklin contributed personal services of the highest merit. He first aided our non-existent sea power when he was a member of the Continental Congress in 1775. On December 13 of that year he cast his vote in favor of building the first American fleet. This fleet of thirteen frigates was the nucleus of the heroic little naval force that was of such value in bringing to a successful termination our struggle for independence. Not only by its victories at sea did this embryo navy distinguish itself, but of equal importance was the achievement of keeping open a line of communication with European countries. For, by this means, the sympathy of those peoples was kept warm leading them to furnish very necessary help to the American cause.
The instrument by which this help was tendered was Benjamin Franklin. He was appointed in 1776 one of the three commissioners to France to represent in that country the United Colonies. It was here he came in actual contact with naval affairs and rendered the services for which the Navy honors his memory.
When Congress elected Franklin to this office, he said to Dr. Rush, “I am old and good for nothing, but as the storekeepers say of their remnants of cloth, I am but a fag end; you may have me for what you please.”
In just a month’s time, on October 26, the “fag end” as he styled himself, started on the long and hazardous voyage to France. He sailed on the Reprisal, a small brig commanded by Captain Wickes. The latter, knowing full well that watchful British cruisers were to be reckoned with, drove his vessel under all sail, making Quiberon Bay in thirty-three days. The effort to evade the cruisers made the trip a rough, exciting one for a man of Franklin’s age, which at that time, was seventy.
Varied and multiple were Franklin’s duties in France. He was a merchant, banker, judge of admiralty, consul, director of the Navy, the agent for the exchange of naval prisoners, and negotiator with England for terms of peace. Much of his time and energy was spent in the execution of his naval duties.
In a letter of this period he writes that the management of the Continental ships of war and their prizes fell entirely upon himself, and that the work along those lines was a “most complicated and embarrassing part of our affairs.” Paul Jones and other officers of the American Navy who were cruising against British commerce made French ports their bases of operation, and were under the direction of Franklin. The latter acted as a court of admiralty in the matter of prizes and their cargoes, settled disputes between the officers and men, advanced their pay, and was responsible for the refitting of the ships. He disposed of hundreds of prizes made by American captains. Arms, ammunition and clothing were shipped to America at his direction. He disbursed large sums of money and made arrangements for equally large loans.
One of the duties of the Continental vessels in European waters was to capture English sailors who were later exchanged for American naval prisoners. The Americans were imprisoned in Forton Prison at Portsmouth, and Mill Prison at Plymouth. The conditions in these two prisons were wretched beyond description. The unfortunate men confined therein suffered acutely from insufficient food, clothing, fuel, and other necessities of life. Crowded into dark unventilated cells they never saw sunlight for months at a time.
Franklin was greatly touched by their misery and want. In him they found a helpful and sympathetic friend, who did all within his power to soften the rigors of their prison life. He sent them money and clothing; aided those fortunate enough to escape to Paris, and arranged for their exchange whenever it was possible to do so. This humane work among the naval prisoners formed a most important part of his notable services in France.
It was Franklin’s foresight and resolution that kept John Paul Jones in Europe when Lee and other interests endeavored to have him sent to America. Fortunately for the American cause his will prevailed, and Jones remained on the other side of the Atlantic where his naval genius brought fame and victory to the Navy of the United Colonies.
This same belief in the ability and genius of Jones was further evidenced in the bitter dispute that arose between the naval hero and Captain Pierre Landais after the famous battle between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis. Franklin was assigned the trying task of investigating the charges brought by these two officers against each other, on their return to the Texel in Holland. Again Franklin’s resolution and fine sense of justice played an important part in the Navy career of the Revolutionary hero. The dispute was settled in favor of John Paul Jones, who was sustained throughout the difficulty by “Poor Richard’s” advice and friendship.
He next turned his attention to helping Jones secure from the French Government the loan of the Ariel. After the vessel was equipped and Jones placed in command Franklin, weary of the administration of naval affairs, asked to be relieved of that troublesome duty.
In his capacity as ambassador to France, Franklin negotiated a treaty with that country which greatly aided and affected the Navy of the Revolution—the so called treaty of alliance. The immediate fruit of this treaty was the powerful aid sent us in the squadron of the Count D’Estaing, consisting of eleven ships of the line, and six frigates.
The genius of Franklin contributed several scientific experiments to naval science. At one time he made a study of the resistance and propulsion of ships and his experiment along those lines is said to be the earliest on record. It was he who demonstrated beyond question that in shallow water there is an increase in resistance.
In a letter to Alphonsus Le Roy of the Royal Academy of Sciences, dated December 2, 1785, Franklin discussed at length his maritime inventions. Accompanying the letter was a carefully drawn group of figures illustrating these experiments and suggestions. This interesting set of figures is reproduced in this article.1
Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 represent the sea or floating anchor, a device for riding out a storm, one that was used in the Navy for many years. The first four figures suggest a method of reducing the resistance of sails to the air. Figures 5, 6, and 7 show why a ship frequently broke her rope cable. His ideas on leaks in a vessel are represented in Figures 8 and 9. In this connection he speaks of the Chinese method of water-tight compartments. Figure 10 represents a catamaran principle applied to larger vessels, thus doing away with ballast. A method of propulsion by pumping water through the stern of a ship is depicted in Figures 13 and 14.
Through the years of its growth, our Navy, the outcome of that naval force which Franklin voted for in 1775, has had until recently a vessel bearing the illustrious name of Franklin. These vessels had long, noteworthy services in the Navy. The first Franklin, a 74-gun ship, remained on the active list until 1852. On her first cruise in 1817 she conveyed the Honorable Richard Rush to England as Minister to that country. The second Franklin, a frigate built in 1854, played a prominent part in the Civil War. Two years after its termination she was the flagship of Admiral Farragut on his European cruise. Afterwards the Franklin was for many years the receiving ship at Norfolk, Virginia. This famous old vessel was sold in 1916, but at the Naval Academy is preserved her figurehead, a representation of Franklin, to whom the Navy will ever be deeply indebted.
1 Editor’s Note: See page xxxiv