Today in History: The Gaspee Burns

On this day (June 9) in 1772 the British customs schooner, Gaspee, ran aground in shallow water off Rhode Island. It had been chasing the Hannah which it correctly suspected of smuggling. Smuggling in the 1770s was viewed almost as a God-given right by Americans because of both tax and license to trade issues with Britain. The Gaspee's Captain (an undiplomatic lieutenant) was especially disliked in the area so a bunch of locals rowed out to the stricken ship while it waited on high tide and burned it.