USS Franklin (1775)
The first USS Franklin was a schooner in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. She was named for Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin was originally a Marblehead fishing vessel fitted out by order of Colonel George Washington in 1775. In October 1775, Hancock and were ordered to intercept two brigs as they arrived in the St. Lawrence River from England. But the two schooners instead sought easier quarry off Cape Canso where five prizes of dubious legality were taken. They also raided Charlottetown settlement without regard to orders to respect Canadian property. The story of their illegal actions reached General Washington who dismissed both ship commanders and returned their prizes to Canadian owners with apologies.
She was part of the fleet of schooners under Commodore John Manley that captured numerous British vessels. She was returned to owner in 1776.
