10/31/2026
in 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two more armed vessels, expanding on its 13 October decision to establish a naval force. Together, these authorizations led to the purchase of *Alfred*, *Columbus*, *Cabot*, and *Andrew Doria*—four merchantmen converted for war.
But building a navy required more than ships. Congress’s Naval Committee also had to select officers, secure supplies, and draft the service’s first rules and regulations. This article from the *Proceedings* archives explores how those early efforts helped turn congressional resolutions into a fighting force at sea.
Read “The Administration of the Continental Navy of the American Revolution”: https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1905/july/administration-continental-navy-american-revolution