Samuel Chew (captain)


Samuel Chew was an officer in the Continental Navy.

Biography

Born in Virginia, Chew, a resident of Connecticut, was appointed by the Marine Committee 17 June 1777 to command the Continental brigantine Resistance with which he had much success against British commerce. The brigantine, carrying ten quarter-pounders, fell in with a British Letter-of-Marque on 4 March 1778. In the hand-to-hand struggle which ensued, Captain Chew, fighting gallantly, was killed but his ship managed to break off the battle with its superior opponent and return safely to Boston.

Namesake

was named in his honor.