American Privateer brig 'Fair American' (1780)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
Juan Agustin de IradySpanish
Naval Sailor
Update
Guipuzcoano (64) 1778-1780
Spanish 64 Gun
Merchant Ship of the Line
Update
San Rafael (30) 1774-1780
Spanish 30 Gun
Merchant Frigate
Update
Luis ArburuSpanish
Naval Sailor
Update
Fermín UrtizbereaSpanish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780
Update
San Carlos (32) 1772-1780
Spanish 32 Gun
Merchant Frigate
Added
San Ignacio de Loyola (50) 1766-1779
Spanish 50 Gun
Merchant Ship
Update
San Ignacio de Loyola (20) 1754-1762
Spanish 20 Gun
Merchant Frigate
Added
Vincente PloSpanish
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1795-1798
Update
Neptuno (80) 1795-1805
Spanish 80 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
See more...

Recent Comments

Santisima Trinidad (136) 1805-1805
British 136 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
(1805)
Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad (116) 1769-1805
Spanish 116 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
(1769)
Drake (14) 1798-1804
British 14 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1798)
Drake (14) 1798-1804
British 14 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1798)
Magicienne (32) 1781-1810
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1781)
L'Africaine (18) 1796-1796
French 18 Gun
Unrated Unknown
(1796)
Quebec (32) 1781-1816
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1781)
Diamond (38) 1794-1812
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Circe (28) 1785-1803
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1785)
Alcmene (32) 1794-1809
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
See more...

Fair American
Nominal Guns	16	NRAR
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	Pennsylvania State Navy
Acquired	20.4.1780	NRAR
Home Port	Philadelphia - Pennsylvania	NRAR
Shipyard	Unknown	NRAR
Category	Privateer	NRAR
Ship Type	Brig	NRAR
Captured	2.1.1782	W027

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW027
Burthen180Ton

Owners

DatesOwnerSource
1780 - 1782/01/02Charles Miller & Co.W027

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
20.4.1780131 W027
16.10.1780130 W027
9.12.1780102 W027
22.5.1781112 W027

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
20.4.1780 - 11.1780Captain (Privateer)W0279.12.1780 - 5.1781Captain (Privateer)W02722.5.1781 - 2.1.1782Captain (Privateer)W027

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
9.12.1780 - 22.5.1781First MateW027

Service History

DateEventSource
2.1.1782Taken by

Notes on Ship

Dimensions?W027

Modern reconstruction, based on the model at the United States Naval Academy

68′ length on the deck

55′5′′ length on the keel

24′ beam,

9′ depth in the hold

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

NRARAuthority, Digital Book

W027Ken Kellow, Web Site

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Monday 20th of January 2025 10:05

We don't know what weapionry she carried, but would more likely to be 4-pounders on a ship this size. The count of 16 may also include swivel guns.

Posted by Greg Fitzpatrick on Monday 20th of January 2025 05:03

What would have been the weight of the cannons, 8 pdr, 12 pdr?

Posted by Cy on Wednesday 2nd of October 2019 07:52

I've added the 'best guess' estimates to the notes. No actual measurements or plans exist that I am aware of.

Posted by Ralph on Tuesday 1st of October 2019 23:08

I would like to see dimensions for these ships. Length on Deck, Waterline length, Maximum Beam,Depth, etc.

Posted by Taner Demir on Thursday 14th of December 2017 20:53

I need plansfor fair American.. I may build it

Posted by Jurgis Nemickas on Friday 29th of May 2015 11:47

I am looking for plans, building instructions, manual, practicum, etc. I would like to build this model historicaly as close as possible

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Wednesday 22nd of July 2026 04:24	F.F.	British First Rate ship of the line 'Santisima Trinidad' (1805) (136) 1805-1805 British 136 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 22nd of July 2026 01:36	F.F.	Spanish First Rate ship of the line 'Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad' (1769) (116) 1769-1805 Spanish 116 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line
Tuesday 21st of July 2026 16:47	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Drake' (1798) (14) 1798-1804 British 14 Gun Unrated Sloop
Tuesday 21st of July 2026 16:46	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Drake' (1798) (14) 1798-1804 British 14 Gun Unrated Sloop
Tuesday 21st of July 2026 16:45	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Magicienne' (1781) (32) 1781-1810 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

GDPR Statement