Pre Naval Service
In his teens William Bainbridge was already of athletic and manly build and had an energetic and adventurous spirit. He was trained as a seaman in ships in the Delaware river, then considered the best 'school' for seamanship because of the great skill required to navigate that river.
Banibridge served aboard the small merchant ship Cantor in 1792.
In 1796 after returning from Brazil, Bainbridge served aboard the merchant ship Hope, a small vessel of 140 tons with four nine-pound guns. While in port in the Garonne river at Bordeaux preparing for his fourth voyage, Bainbridge, after being hailed for help from a nearby ship, put down a mutiny while outnumbered by seven seaman. In the effort Bainbridge was badly wounded nearly losing his life. For his courage and in recognition of his navigational and seaman skills he was made commander of that ship in 1796 at the age of nineteen.
After leaving France that same year he sailed to the Caribbean while in port at St. Johns Bainbridge was hailed by an English schooner, but refused to stop. The English vessel fired guns in response where Bainbrifdghe and his crack crew quickly turned about and with only two guns to a broadside, inflicted enough damage that forced the enemy ship to strike colors and surrender.
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