Here Comes Revenge: the Loss, Rediscovery, and Investigation of Oliver Hazzard Perry’s 14-gun Schooner

Author(s): George Schwarz

Year: 2018

Summary

In January 1811, U.S. Navy schooner Revenge, under the command of then-Lt. Oliver Hazzard Perry, encountered thick fog and heavy swells off of Rhode Island and struck a reef. In an unsuccessful attempt to free the sinking ship, Perry jettisoned the masts, anchor, and eight of the vessel’s 14 guns. Two centuries later the wreck was believed to be rediscovered by local divers, and since 2012 Naval History and Heritage Command’s Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) has conducted sonar and magnetometer surveys to refine the extent of the wreck and attempt to confirm its identity. In May 2017, UAB partnered with U.S. naval commands in R.I. and the site discoverers to map the wreck and recover a 6-pounder gun for conservation, analysis, and exhibit. This presentation provides an overview of Navy’s ongoing research, collaboration with local divers, and considerations on what the cannon, once conserved, might reveal about the site.

Cite this Record

Here Comes Revenge: the Loss, Rediscovery, and Investigation of Oliver Hazzard Perry’s 14-gun Schooner. George Schwarz. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2018 ( tDAR id: 441253)

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

General
Cannon Navy Shipwreck

Geographic Keywords
North America United States of America

Temporal Keywords
Early 19th Century

Spatial Coverage

min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 765