Hector McNeill facts for kids
Hector McNeill (born October 10, 1728 – died December 25, 1785) was an immigrant who came to America from Scotland and Ireland. He became a sailor who worked on trading ships for the Royal Navy during the French and Indian War. This war was part of a bigger conflict called the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). Later, he became an important officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
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Early Life and Family
Hector McNeill was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on October 10, 1728. His parents, Malcolm and Mary McNeill, were Scottish people who had moved to Ireland. When Hector was nine years old, his family moved to Boston in America. They arrived on September 7, 1737. Hector went to school in Boston Public Schools.
On November 12, 1750, he married Mary Wilson. They had a son named Robert, who was born in 1752 but sadly died the next year. Their second son, Hector Jr., was born in November. They also had two daughters.
Serving in the Seven Years' War
In April 1755, Hector McNeill started working for the King's navy as a merchant marine. He was given command of a ship. This ship took General Monckton to Nova Scotia. Hector stayed there during a battle called the siege of Beausejour. He returned to Boston in October of that year.
Near the end of 1755, just before the Seven Years' War officially began, his ship was captured. It was taken by Native Americans who were allies of the French. This happened in Passamaquoddy Bay. Hector was taken as a prisoner to Quebec. After a prisoner exchange, he was set free. He then got another ship and worked in the New England area, trading goods along the coast.
Life After the War
After the Seven Years' War, Hector McNeill continued to sail merchant ships. He traveled between Quebec and Boston. In April 1765, he sailed the sloop Phenix with many passengers. In November 1766, he commanded the sloop Fanny and Jeany. He also led the sloop Brittania in 1767 and the Swallow in 1768.
Hector's first wife, Mary Wilson, passed away on February 7, 1769. She is buried in the Granary Burying Ground. He married again on December 26, 1770, to Mary Watt. They had a daughter named Sarah.
Joining the American Revolution
Before the American Revolution started, McNeill was living in Quebec, which was controlled by the British. When the war began, the British Governor-General, Guy Carleton, told him he had a choice. He could either join the British army or leave the colony. McNeill chose to leave.
Soon, he began transporting supplies for the American army. This was during their invasion of Canada under General Benedict Arnold. McNeill continued this job for several months. However, the British received more soldiers. This forced the Americans to leave Canada.
In June 1776, McNeill went to the Continental Congress. He wanted to become a Captain in the new Continental Navy. On June 15, he was given the position. He became the third-highest-ranking captain.
He was given command of a new warship called Boston. This ship was prepared for battle in Newburyport, Massachusetts. After a year of getting the ship ready and finding a crew, the Boston joined another new warship. This was the Hancock. Together, they formed a group of ships called a squadron. This squadron was led by Captain John Manley, who was the Navy's second-highest-ranking officer. McNeill and Manley often had disagreements. This was partly because there were not enough supplies or crew members.
Battles at Sea
On May 21, 1777, McNeill's squadron fought in the Grand Banks. On June 8, 1777, they captured a British ship named HMS Fox. During this 90-minute battle, Captain Manley's ship did most of the fighting. However, McNeill was able to position his ship to take control of the British warship. Manley then told McNeill to give the Fox to his crew. This made the bad feelings between them even worse.
On July 7, 1777, Manley sailed ahead of the rest of the squadron. He met Captain George Collier's HMS Rainbow and Template:French ship Vestale (1756). The British ships were very well-trained. They easily defeated the American squadron. Manley might have been able to escape the slower British ships. But the Hancock had heavy cargo in its front storage areas. This made the front of the ship dip, which slowed it down. After a 39-hour chase, the British captured the Hancock and the Fox on July 9. McNeill did not help Manley during his escape. Instead, he sailed to the safe waters of the Sheepscot River in Maine.
Court-Martial and Privateering
McNeill stayed in Maine for about a month. During this time, more and more people criticized his leadership. After Captain Manley was released in a prisoner exchange, both men faced a military trial called a court-martial. As a result, McNeill was removed from the Navy without any special ceremony. For the rest of the war, he worked as a privateer for Massachusetts. This meant he commanded ships like the Pallas and Adventure to attack enemy ships for profit.
Later Life and Passing
After the war, Hector McNeill went back to working as a merchant marine. He was lost at sea on December 25, 1785.
Important Note
Captain Hector McNeill should not be confused with British Loyalist Colonel Hector McNeill. That Colonel Hector McNeill, along with Colonel David Fanning, led a surprise attack. This attack was on American forces under Governor Thomas Burke in Hillsboro, North Carolina. It happened on September 12, 1781. An American counter-attack, led by General John Butler, caused losses for the Loyalists. Colonel McNeill was killed, and the Loyalists had to leave Burke and their other prisoners behind.
