 The Continental Ship Alfred by W. Nowland Van Powell, depicting Lieutenant John Paul Jones hoisting the first American flag on December 3, 1775.
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| 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 |
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| Service record | |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | |
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.