by A.M.T. Cheung FRPSL
The trade between China and America began on 24 August 1784 (8th day of the 10th lunar month) when the Empress of Asia, an American merchant ship arrived in Canton. Two years later, in 1786, the first American Consulate was set up in Canton.
The cover shown is a 22 December 1788 letter written by Jeremiah Sparrows in Canton during the trading season to a firm in Philadelphia. Foreign ships visited Canton during the months of October to January. The letter spoke of difficult conditions set by the Chinese "....we are at this time nearly under Martial Law not being allowed to go out of the ship only on Sundays and then to be onboard again at dark..." The letter was carried by the clipper Canton which was the first ship from Philadelphia visiting China. The ship was commanded by Thomas Truxtun.
Thomas Truxtun was born on 17 February 1755 near Hempstead, Long Island, New York. When his father died in 1876, young Truxtun came under the guardianship of John Troup of Jamaica, Long Island. Two years later, at the age of 12, he embarked upon a seafaring career, sailing with Captains Joseph Homes and James Chambers in the London trade. At 16, he was pressed into service in the Royal navy on board HMS Prudent. Truxtun's British commanding officer observed the lad's natural abilities and offered him aid in securing a midshipman's warrant. However, Truxtun, declined, obtained his release through the good offices of influential friends, and returned to mercantile service. By the age of 20, he had risen to command of Andrew Caldwell in which he brought large quantities of gunpowder into Philadelphia in 1775. Later that year, his ship was seized by HMS Argo off St. Kitts in the West Indies.
By the time Truxtun made his way back to Philadelphia, the colonies had reached the point of open rupture with the mother country. He signed on as a lieutenant in Congress, the first privateer to be fitted out for service against Great Britain. During the remainder of 1776, Truxtun participated in the capture of several prizes off the coast of Cuba. In 1777, he fitted out Continental Navy sloop Independence and sailed her to the Azores where he took three prizes. Upon his return, Truxtun fitted out Mars and made a highly successful cruise in the English Channel. Successively, he commanded Independence once more and then, in turn, Commerce and St. James.
In addition to privateering, Truxtun's ships also carried precious cargoes of military stores to the colonies. On one voyage in St. James, he landed the most valuable cargo brought into Philadelphia during the Revolution. At a dinner in Truxtun's honor, George Washington declared his services had been worth those of a regiment. On another occasion, St. James--still under his command--carried Thomas Barclay, the American consul, to France. En route, he also managed to disable a 32-gun British ship.
Following the Revolution, Truxtun resumed his career in mercantile service and commanded Canton, the first Philadelphia ship to enter China trade.
When the United States Navy was organized, he was selected as one of its first six captains on 4 June 1798. He was assigned command of one of the new frigates then under construction. His ship, Constellation, was completed late in June; and he put to sea immediately to prosecute the undeclared naval war with revolutionary France.
After an illustrious career in the navy, Commodore Truxtun retired first to Perth Amboy, N.J., and thence to Philadelphia, where he was active in local politics for the rest of his life. In 1809, he led the agitation in Philadelphia against the Embargo. The following year, he was unsuccessful in his bid for a seat in Congress under the Federalist banner. From 1816 to 1819, Truxtun served as the sheriff of Philadelphia. Commodore Truxtun died at Philadelphia on 5 May 1822 and was burried at Christ Church.
Reference:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Dept. of the Navy - Naval Historical Center www.history.navy.mil