The Revolutionary War privateer king who made Salem richer than Boston with captured British ships

The Privateering Empire of "King Derby"

Salem Maritime National Historical Park preserves the Derby House and Derby Wharf, where America’s most successful Revolutionary War privateer built his fortune.

The 1762 Derby House shows how the Derby family lived during their privateering heyday, while Derby Wharf exhibits tell the story of their naval operations.

Elias Hasket Derby transformed his modest merchant business into Salem’s most devastating privateering empire, capturing more British ships than any other American port during the Revolutionary War.

His success helped fund the early American economy and made him possibly the nation’s first millionaire.

Here’s how "King Derby" used legalized piracy to help win American independence and build a trading empire that would span the globe.

The Derby Family Ruled Salem’s Seas Before the Revolution

By 1760, Richard Derby built a solid shipping business with at least thirteen vessels sailing along the coast and to the West Indies. His son Elias Hasket Derby ran the books from 1760 until the Revolution started.

The family ran their growing business from Derby Wharf, which they began building in 1762. Business had rough patches too.

French privateers grabbed several Derby ships during earlier conflicts. Salem merchants like the Derbys faced constant threats to their ships and cargo.

British Navy Bullies Pushed Derby Into Wartime Business

When problems with Britain grew, the British navy caused Derby big troubles. They stopped his ships, took his rum and sugar cargo, and hurt his business badly.

Derby later said the British "ruined" his trade and "seriously hurt" his property. Tired of these losses, Derby joined other Salem merchants to arm vessels for the town’s defense.

The Revolutionary War gave Derby the perfect chance to strike back at British shipping through privateering.

Salem Launched A Huge Fleet Of Private Warships

Salem went big on privateering, sending out 158 armed merchant ships with more than 2,000 cannons during the Revolution. Derby owned shares in about half of all Salem privateers, making him the biggest owner in town.

These ships carried brave sailors from Salem, Beverly, and Marblehead who wanted adventure and money. The Continental Congress officially approved this private navy in 1776.

Derby’s early privateer Sturdy Beggar carried six guns and 24 men with four months of food.

Grand Turk Came To Life Through Barrels Of Rum

Derby needed a main ship for his growing privateer fleet, so he ordered the 300-ton Grand Turk built at Thomas Barstow’s Two Oaks shipyard in Hanover, Massachusetts.

Captain James Gibaut watched the building until the ship launched in May 1781. The vessel combined speed with good cargo space.

Derby paid for his new ship by trading rum and butter for labor and materials.

Workers fitted Grand Turk with 28 guns and a copper-bottomed hull that helped her move through water faster than British merchant ships.

Derby’s New Flagship Started Capturing Prizes Right Away

On June 13, 1781, Grand Turk got her official papers under Captain Thomas Simmons with a crew of 120 men ready for action.

Before June ended, the ship scored her first wins by capturing the British ships Defiance and Venus. These early prizes brought in £1,504, split between Derby and the crew.

Grand Turk soon became known as Salem’s largest and most feared privateer, making British captains worry whenever they saw her sails.

Derby’s Ships Grabbed British Vessels By The Dozens

Between 1781 and 1782, Grand Turk captured 25 British ships during her privateering career.

She hunted during the final years of the war when British merchant vessels still crossed the Atlantic with valuable cargo. Each capture filled Derby’s pockets with money from selling both the prize ships and their cargo.

No other privateer from Salem harbor matched Grand Turk’s success record. Derby used these profits to build even more ships.

Salem Privateers Captured More Ships Than Anyone Else

Salem’s 158 privateers grabbed 458 British prizes during the Revolutionary War. This small port captured more prize tonnage than any other American harbor.

American privateers together caused about $18 million in damage to British shipping during the conflict. Derby’s fleet added a huge part of this total damage.

Salem privateers captured more prizes than half of all other Colonial ports combined.

King Derby Personally Took Over 150 British Ships

Derby’s various privateers captured more than 150 prizes during the Revolution, growing his fortune with each British ship taken. His sloop Revenge, armed with ten guns, made good money early in the war.

On August 19, 1776, Derby served as merchant agent for the prize case of the captured British ship Anna Maria. Each capture needed approval from a court before Derby could collect his prize money.

These legal steps confirmed Derby’s status as Salem’s most successful privateer owner.

Peace News Arrived On Derby’s Own Vessel

On March 12, 1783, Grand Turk captured the British ship Pompey, whose captain said a peace treaty had been signed. Captain Pratt didn’t believe these peace rumors and took Pompey as his final prize anyway.

Soon after, official news of the 1783 peace treaty came from France aboard Derby’s ship Astrea. When the war ended, Derby owned four ships and three brigs, all made bigger for wartime speed and carrying capacity.

War Forced Derby To Build Bigger And Better Ships

The war completely changed Derby’s fleet. His ships grew too big for the simple trade he did before the war and couldn’t go back to their old routes.

These larger vessels didn’t work well for small business or slow trips carrying lumber, animals, and fish to the West Indies. Bigger ships needed more goods and larger return cargo to make money.

With coastal and international trade still struggling after the war, Derby faced a challenge with his ships that needed new peacetime uses.

Salem’s First Millionaire Built A Global Trading Empire

Derby used his privateering wealth to create new trade routes with Russia, the Baltic, Europe, and the East Indies after 1784.

His Grand Turk became the first New England vessel to trade directly with China in 1787, opening Asian markets to American merchants.

The money Derby made during the war let him take risks on these long-distance voyages that other merchants couldn’t afford.

His success likely made him America’s first millionaire, which led writer Nathaniel Hawthorne to call him "King Derby.

Visiting Salem Maritime National Historical Park

At Salem Maritime National Historic Park, you can explore the empire of "King Derby" at 160 Derby Street. The grounds and outdoor exhibits are free and open all day.

Derby House tours need reservations at (978) 740-1650 and start at the Waite and Peirce Center. Tours are small with just 8 people.

You can also check out the Custom House and other buildings on your own when rangers are there. The Salem Armory shows maritime films Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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