America's First Naval Force Was a Group of Angry Fishermen

Early in the American Revolution, General George Washington saw a problem. As the Continental Army had problems getting supplies to its troops, the British Army saw a steady stream of unescorted supply ships crossing the Atlantic. The Americans needed a navy to intercept them. Officers couldn't spare any soldiers to form a naval force, and there was no time nor funds to build ships.  

However, in the lead up to the war, England had had responded to various tax protests by making it illegal for Americans to fish in the Atlantic! As soon as the war began, an estimated 4800 angry unemployed fishermen signed up to fight. Washington recognized the opportunity, and made them into an instant navy. The experienced seafarers needed no training, they just needed to be armed and paid. They even brought their own boats. Read how all this came about, and what American fishermen did to win the revolution at the Conversation. -via Smithsonian 

(Image credit: John F. Leavitt)