Helping in the US War of Independence
The Hermione, a 12-pounder frigate was built at Rochefort in 1748 as an experiment and was the forerunner of all the 12-pounder frigates launched in the 18th century.
The Hermione will always be linked with helping the United States win its War of Independence. In 1778 France, who had made an alliance with the United States, declared war on England and on March 20, 1780, the French general, the Marquis de La Fayette, who had been named Major General of the American Army, embarked on the Hermione for one of the most important French events of the 18th century: the landing of their regiments at Newport in July to fight alongside the Americans. His mission was to organize with General Washington the political and military aspects of this landing. Following his disembarkation on May 2, 1780 the frigate went on to engage in combat against the armed English frigate, the Iris and her escort on June 7 during which time the ship fired 260 cannonballs. On May 4, 1781 a reception of the American Congress was held on board during which there was official announcement of the victory of Chesapeake of March 16, 1781. On July 21, the frigate was again engaged in battle, this time against six English vessels at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, at which she is recorded as having fired no less than 509 cannonballs. French sea-power eventually played a crucial role in the surrender of the British army at Yorktown in 1781. Although the thirteen states of the American Union did not become sovereign until 1783 the Hermione’s American adventures were over and she returned to Rochefort arriving in the outer roads on February 25, 1782.
In 1997, The Hermione-La Fayette Association is currently in the project of rebuilding the Hermione. The ship is scheduled to be completed and sea-worth in 2007.
