Naval Act of 1794: Birth of the U.S. Navy
Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 to build six frigates after Algiers captured eleven more American merchant ships in 1793. This legislation reactivated a permanent standing naval force that replaced the Revenue Marine as the nation's primary maritime defense. The act directly birthed the United States Navy, ending decades of vulnerability to Mediterranean piracy.
March 27, 1794
232 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on March 27
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