Richard Wickes (naval officer)
| Richard Wickes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | unknown date Kent County, Maryland |
| Died |
June 29, 1776 Turtle Gut Inlet near Cape May, New Jersey |
| Buried | Cold Spring Presbyterian Church cemetery Cold Spring, New Jersey |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch | Continental Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | |
Richard Wickes (died June 29, 1776) was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He served as the third lieutenant on the Reprisal, captained by his brother Lambert Wickes. During the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet, he was the first American casualty of the war in New Jersey.
Richard Wickes was born in Kent County, Maryland. His family home, Wickliffe, was on Eastern Neck Island.
Richard Wickes received his commission early in the war, as did his brother Lambert. On March 28, 1776, they both began service on the newly commissioned 18-gun Reprisal. On June 10, the Committee of Secret Correspondence of Congress ordered Captain Wickes to set sail from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and proceed to Martinique. On June 28, near Cape May, New Jersey, they joined forces with Captain John Barry on the Lexington to come to the aid of the privateer Nancy being chased by two British Navy ships, the 32-gun HMS Orpheus and the 16-gun HMS Kingfisher. Nancy was headed to Philadelphia with supplies loaded in the Caribbean islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix. The cargo contained several hundred kegs of gunpowder.
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