Captain Gustavus Conyngham, 1777-1780

Given command of the small 10-gun ship Surprise in 1777 during the Revolutionary War, he raided English waters, intercepting the King's packet and landing a raiding party on the Isle of Guernsey.  He shifted to the 14-gun cutter Revenge in 1778 and seized 60 British ships, becoming the champion lone-wolf commerce raider.  His prizes financed the American diplomatic service abroad for two years.  Finally captured by a larger frigate HMS Galatea, Conyngham eventually tunneled out and escaped from Britain's Old Mill Prison.

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