Daniel Fones

Cannon of Tartar, Washington Square (Newport, Rhode Island) (c. 1922)
Daniel Fones Letter, Battle off Tatamagouche, 1745

Daniel Fones (born 9 March 1713, Conanicut Island, Jamestown, Rhode Island – c. 1790, North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island) was the leading military commander for Rhode Island in the Siege of Louisbourg in 1745.[1] He was the captain of Tartar, the privateer vessel was the Rhode Island contribution to the victory at Louisbourg (the 150 soldiers from Rhode Island arrived after the Siege).[2]

Fones took command of Tartar at the outbreak of King George's War. In April 1745, Fones successfully escorted the 500 soldiers in seven transports to Canso, Nova Scotia.[3][4] During the voyage he drew fire from the French 32-gun frigate Renommée, under Kersaint-Coëtnempren, in an eight-hour engagement.[5][6] In May 1745, participating in the blockade of Louisbourg, Fones captured the French merchant ship Deux Amies. In June he participated in the Naval battle off Tatamagouche. In the battle, Fones rescued the Connecticut warship Resolution and crushed the French and Indian expedition en route to save Louisbourg.

Cannon from Captain Fones' ship Tartar, Newport Historical Society

After the war he commanded the privateer Prince Frederick, the Defiance and Success.[2]

After he retired from the sea, he represented North Kingstown in the General Assembly. Then in 1770, he opened David Fones Tavern at 126 Main St., North Kingstown.[2] His father Jeremiah Fones was buried at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island.

  1. ^ Eastman, Ralph M. (Ralph Mason) (Oct 15, 1928). "Some famous privateers of New England". [Boston] Priv. print., State street trust company. Retrieved Oct 15, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b c Cranston, G. Timothy (26 February 2015). "Capt. Daniel Fones: Local war hero and privateer". The Independent. Retrieved Oct 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England: 1741-1756". A. C. Greene and brothers, state printers. Oct 15, 1860. Retrieved Oct 15, 2021 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England: 1741-1756". A. C. Greene and brothers, state printers. Oct 15, 1860. Retrieved Oct 15, 2021 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Clowes, Sir William Laird (Oct 15, 1898). "The Royal Navy, a History from the Earliest Times to Present". S. Low, Marston, Company. Retrieved Oct 15, 2021 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ McLennan, John Stewart (Oct 15, 1918). "Louisbourg, from its foundation to its fall, 1713-1758". London Macmillan. Retrieved Oct 15, 2021 – via Internet Archive.