The Gaspee Affair: A Final Spark for the American Revolution

An engraving depicting Rhode Island colonists burning the HMS Gaspee.

The Gaspee Affair was a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution. Occurring in 1772, Rhode Island colonists set the British ship Gaspee on fire in a demonstration of colonial resistance against British authority, particularly against the enforcement of the Navigation Acts and the presence of British naval forces in American waters. The event stands as a testament to the colonists' unwavering determination to achieve independence.

The Gaspee Affair occurred in the context of increasing tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain. The Navigation Acts, which restricted colonial trade and mandated the use of British ships for certain goods, were deeply resented by American merchants. Additionally, the presence of British naval vessels tasked with enforcing these acts, such as the HMS Gaspee, symbolized British oppression and infringement on colonial autonomy.

The Gaspee was a British schooner tasked with enforcing regulations in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Sailed by Lieutenant William Duddingston, it became a symbol of British control and perceived tyranny. Colonists became outraged by the Gaspee harassing merchant ships and unfairly seizing goods. This suspicion, coupled with the unpopularity of the Townshend Acts (taxation measures enacted by the British Parliament), created simmering discontent.

In one particular incident, the Gaspee stopped the Fortune, a colonists' sloop, and seized the rum it had on board. Duddingston took it upon himself to send the Fortune and the seized rum to Boston and determined that the trial for having contraband on the ship take place there. His actions were in direct violation of the Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663, which stated that trials could not be held outside Rhode Island for arrests made within the colony.

On June 9, 1772, the HMS Gaspee ran aground near Providence, Rhode Island, while chasing a suspected smuggling ship. Colonists, led by local leaders such as John Brown (who later founded Brown University with his brothers) and Abraham Whipple, saw an opportunity to resist British authority. In a coordinated effort, they attacked and boarded the Gaspee, capturing its crew and burning the ship to the waterline. This act of defiance was a direct challenge to British sovereignty and sparked outrage in London.

The British response to the Gaspee Affair was swift and severe. King George III issued a proclamation offering a reward for the capture of the perpetrators and ordered an investigation. However, a commission of inquiry formed by the British Crown failed to identify any culprits.

Furthermore, British authorities threatened to extradite those suspected of the Gaspee Affair to England to stand trial. The thought of sending colonists to London for trial instead of holding the trial in the American colonies further enraged colonists against the British. A committee of correspondence was formed in Boston to consult on the matter.

Reverend John Allen preached a sermon on the matter in Boston’s Second Baptist Church, using the Gaspee Affair and subsequent British actions to warn about greedy monarchs, corrupt judges, and conspiracies in the British government against the colonies. The sermon was printed into pamphlets and became one of the most popular pamphlets of Colonial America, galvanizing more support for the patriot cause and demonstrating that colonists were willing to use force to resist British oppression.

The Gaspee Affair had far-reaching consequences that contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolution. It heightened tensions between the colonies and Britain, leading to further acts of resistance that culminated in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Moreover, it demonstrated the growing sense of unity among the colonies, laying the groundwork for the Continental Congress and eventual independence.