18th Century

Date	Event
March 3, 1776 April 4, 1776	First amphibious landing operation.  Continental naval squadron under Commodore Esek Hopkins lands Sailors and Marines, commanded by Captain Samuel Nichols, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, capturing urgently-needed ordnance and gunpowder. Continental Navy frigate Columbus captures HM Tender Hawke, the first American capture of a British armed vessel.
January 28, 1778	Second New Providence Expedition raised the flag with thirteen stripes over Fort Nassau.
February 14, 1778 April 2, 1781	John Paul Jones in USS Ranger receives the first official salute to the U.S. Stars and Stripes flag by a European country, at Quiberon, France. Frigate Alliance captures 2 British privateers, Mars and Minerva.
January 20, 1783	Hostilities cease between Great Britain and the United States.
February 23, 1795	U.S. Navy Office of Purveyor of Supplies is established.  This is the Navy Supply Corps Birthday.
February 4, 1779	John Paul Jones takes command of the Bonhomme Richard.
March 10, 1783	USS Alliance, under the command of CAPT John Barry, defeats HMS Sybil in the final naval action of the Revolutionary War in West Indies waters.
March 27, 1794 April 3, 1797	The U.S. Congress authorizes the construction of 6 frigates, including the USS Constitution. CAPT Thomas Truxton issued the first known American signal book using numerary system.
March 9, 1798	Appointment of the first surgeon U.S. Navy, George Balfour.
February 9, 1799	USS Constellation under the command of CAPT Truxton captures French naval vessel l'Insurgente.
March 27, 1799	USS Constitution recaptures the American sloop USS Neutrality from France.