Hoysted Hacker
Captain, Continental Navy

Hoysted Hacker was born on 24 December 1745 in Providence, RI, to prominent merchant Joshua Hacker and wife, Martha. He learned to sail as a youth and, until 1775, ran merchant ship packets for the family enterprise in Rhode Island.

When Congress was organizing a navy, Hacker was recommended as a candidate. Along with four other candidates, including John Paul Jones, he was commissioned Lieutenant at the official formation of the Continental Navy on 22 December 1775. He was promoted to Captain on 10 October 1776.

In November 1776, while in command of the sloop Providence, he captured the British supply ship Mellish. In the spring of 1779, after a fierce battle he captured the British sloop Diligent off Sandy Hook, NJ. In 1781, he was appointed Executive Officer of the Alliance under U.S. Continental Navy Commander John Barry. After Commander Barry was wounded during an attack, he continued the battle and after several close quarter broadside blasts to the enemy, captured both of the attacking British warships. Later in 1781, he was requested by John Cabot of Beverly, MA, to command the privateer Buccannier.

After the war, he took up residence in New York City, where he kept a private boarding house until the death of his first wife in 1794. He was a pilot for ships sailing through Hell Gate in New York harbor until his death, which is listed as 'in New York City or at sea.' He was a member of The Marine Society of the City of New York. He was also one of the original members of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, his admittance document signed by George Washington and Henry Knox.

Death and Burial

Captain Hoysted Hacker died on 19 July 1814 in New York, NY. He is buried at Trinity Churchyard in Manhattan, NY.