Jonathan Haraden

Jonathan Haraden (11 November 1744 – 23 November 1803) was privateer during the American Revolution.

Born in Gouchester, Massachusetts, Haraden joined the Massachusetts State Navy in July 1776 as First Lieutenant of the sloop-of-war Tyrannicide. Sailing with her for 2 years, he captured many prizes, and rose to command her in 1777. In 1778, Haraden left the state navy for a career as a privateersman, commanding General Pickering. He simultaneously engaged three British privateers off New Jersey in October 1779, and captured a 22-gun sloop in the Bay of Biscay. When British privateer Achilles, of three times his force, attempted to recapture his prize a few days later, Haraden fought a fierce action at close quarters for 3 hours, forcing the larger ship to sheer off. Captured briefly by Admiral George Rodney in the West Indies in 1781, Haraden escaped and sailed privateer Julius Caesar in 1782. In June of that year he fought off two British vessels of equal force at the same time.

His health declined steadily after the close of the War for Independence, and he died at Salem, Massachusetts.

Two destroyers of the United States Navy have been named USS Haraden for him.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.