Samuel Drinkwater
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Samuel Drinkwater | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 24, 1742 |
| Died | July 30, 1834 (aged 92) Portland, Maine, U.S. |
| Occupation | Sea captain |
| Spouse | Arhoda Barbour Bradford (1770–1829; her death) |
Samuel Drinkwater (February 24, 1742 – July 30, 1834) was an American sea captain. A native of North Yarmouth, Province of Massachusetts, he became captain of the USS Enterprise during the War of 1812.
Drinkwater was born in 1742[1] in North Yarmouth, Province of Massachusetts, to Joseph Drinkwater and Janet Latham,[2] one of their eight sons.
Career
During the American Revolutionary War, Drinkwater served in the Massachusetts militia. He transported military cargo and troops on his ship, the Sparrow, during the Penobscot Expedition of 1779.[1]
Along with William Burrows, who was forty years his junior, a 69-year-old Drinkwater captained the USS Enterprise during the War of 1812.[1] After Burrows died in action, Drinkwater guided the vessel back to Portland's harbor while towing the defeated HMS Boxer, which had been captained by Samuel Blyth, who also died in the combat. It is believed Drinkwater had lost some, if not all, of his hearing due to cannonfire.[1]
