Who Was The Notorious Pirate Known As “Blackbeard”?

Did You Know!

Despite being the smallest state in the U.S., Rhode Island once had the largest colonial navy during the American Revolution. In 1775—before the Continental Navy was even formed—Rhode Island’s legislature authorized two ships to protect its trade from British interference. The state’s bold naval action directly influenced the Continental Congress to establish the official U.S. Navy a few months later.