David Ropes
{{Short description|American privateer}}
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{{Infobox military person
| name = David Ropes
| birth_date = {{circa}} 1755
| birth_place = Salem, Massachusetts
| death_date = May 1782 (aged {{circa}} 27)
| death_place = Atlantic Ocean
| allegiance = United States
| serviceyears = 1778–1782
| battles = {{plainlist|
:2nd Battle off Halifax{{KIA}}
}}
| children = 1 son
}}
File:BriggObserveregagingtheJack29May1782HalifaxPublRDodd1Sept1784BerleyRobisonCollectionUSNavalAcademy.jpg by Robert Dodd]]
Captain David Ropes ({{circa|1755}} – May 1782) was an American privateer from Salem, Massachusetts who served in the American Revolutionary War.[https://archive.org/details/oldnaumkeaganhi00webbgoog/page/n256?q=Captain+%22David+Ropes%22 Old Naumkeag : an historical sketch of the city of Salem, and the towns of Marblehead, Peabody, Beverly, Danvers, Wenham, Manchester, Topsfield, and Middleton By Webber, C. H. (Charles Henry); Nevins, Winfield S, p. 236] He was taken prisoner twice during the war and then killed in the Battle off Halifax (1782).
Career
On 14 August 1778, Ropes became the commander of the schooner Lively (14 guns, 40 men). He was captured off Jeddore, Nova Scotia by the armed sloops Howe on 10 November 1778.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015012083690&view=1up&seq=245 Massachusetts privateers of the revolution, by Gardner Weld ... Allen, Gardner Weld, 1856-1944. p. 209]
Six months later on 22 May 1779, he became the commander of the Brigantine Wildcat (12 guns, 65 men). On 14 June, he chased a brig and drove it ashore.[https://archive.org/details/marinesinrevolut00wash/page/353?q=Captain+%22David+Ropes%22 p. 253][https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015012083690&view=1up&seq=375 Massachusetts privateers of the revolution, by Gardner Weld ... Allen, Gardner Weld, 1856-1944. p. 325] In August 1779, the Wild Cat was taken by Robuste (64 guns), and Ropes was brought to Newfoundland and imprisoned.[https://archive.org/details/marinesinrevolut00wash/page/353/mode/1up/search/resolution?q=Captain+%22David+Ropes%22 p. 353]
The following year, on 9 September 1780, Ropes became the commander of the schooner Dolphin (8 guns, 20 men).[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015012083690&view=1up&seq=146 Massachusetts privateers of the revolution, by Gardner Weld ... Allen, Gardner Weld, 1856-1944. p. 118]{{Cite web | url=https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=20783 |title = American Privateer schooner 'Dolphin' (1782)}}
On 14 March 1781, Ropes became the commander of the ship Congress (20 guns, 130 men). On 1 July 1781, Ropes was taken prisoner along with 20 men in a battle with the British frigate HMS Oiseau under the command of Captain Henry Lloyd, and carried into St. John's, Newfoundland. Ropes was released and arrive in Boston on 15 August.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015012083690&view=1up&seq=132 Massachusetts privateers of the revolution, by Gardner Weld ... Allen, Gardner Weld, 1856-1944. p. 104]{{Cite web | url=http://www.awiatsea.com/Privateers/C/Congress%20Massachusetts%20Ship%20%5BRopes%5D.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225030041/http://www.awiatsea.com/Privateers/C/Congress%20Massachusetts%20Ship%20%5BRopes%5D.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=December 25, 2012 | title=Massachusetts Privateer Ship Congress [Ropes]}}[https://archive.org/details/marinesinrevolut00wash/page/353?q=Captain+%22David+Ropes%22 p. 353]
On 16 September 1781, Ropes became commander of the ship Jack (14 guns, 60 men). He fell in with the British brigantine Observer (12 guns, 173 men) off of Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 29, 1782. The British had killed Ropes by the first broadside and then half the crew before Lieutenant William Gray surrendered the ship.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015012083690&view=1up&seq=226 Massachusetts privateers of the revolution, by Gardner Weld ... Allen, Gardner Weld, 1856-1944. p. 190]
His son was Captain Joseph Ropes.{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/somefamousprivat00east/page/33/mode/1up/search/halifax |title = Some famous privateers of New England|year = 1928|publisher = [Boston] Priv. print., State street trust company}}
See also
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ropes, David}}
Category:United States military personnel killed in the American Revolutionary War
Category:United States Navy personnel of the American Revolution
Category:Privateers from the Thirteen Colonies
Category:American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain