USS Alfred

The Continental Ship Alfred by W. Nowland Van Powell, depicting Lieutenant John Paul Jones hoisting the first American flag on December 3, 1775.
History
Great Britain
Name	Black Prince
Namesake	Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall
Owner	Willing, Morris & Co.
Launched	1774
Homeport	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fate	Sold on December 3, 1775
United States
Name	USS Alfred
Namesake	Alfred of Wessex
Ordered	November 4, 1775
Commissioned	December 3, 1775
Fate	Captured on March 9, 1778
Great Britain
Name	HMS Alfred
Acquired	March 1778
Fate	Sold in 1782
Great Britain
Name	Alfred
Owner	T. Seale
Acquired	1782
Notes	Still in service in 1789
General characteristics
Tons burthen	440 (bm)
Length	140 ft (43 m)
Beam	32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft	15 ft (4.6 m)
Complement	220 officers and men
Armament	20 × 9-pounder guns 10 × 6-pounder guns
Service record
Commanders:	John Barry, Master (1774–76) Capt. Dudley Saltonstall (1776) Capt. John Paul Jones (1776–77) Capt. Elisha Hinman (1777–78)
Operations:	Battle of Nassau Battle of Block Island

Alfred was the merchant vessel Black Prince, named for Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall and launched in 1774. The Continental Navy acquired her in 1775, renaming her Alfred after 9th century English monarch Alfred of Wessex, and commissioned her as a 24-gun frigate. During the American Revolutionary War, the Alfred participated in two major naval operations; the battles of Nassau and Block Island. The Royal Navy captured her in 1778, took her into service as HMS Alfred, and sold her in 1782. She then became the merchantman Alfred, and sailed between London and Jamaica.