USS Randolph was a 32-gun frigate of the Continental Navy named for Founding Father Peyton Randolph, the president of the First Continental Congress. Attaining only moderate success in her career, Randolph was destroyed by an explosion of her gunpowder stores during the Battle off Barbados on 8 March 1778.
Construction
Construction of the first Randolph was authorized by the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775. The frigate, designed by Joshua Humphreys, was launched on 10 July 1776, by Wharton and Humphreys at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Patriot Nicholas Biddle, with his extensive naval experience, was appointed captain of the Randolph on 11 July; he formally assumed command of the frigate in mid-October.
Maiden voyage
Seamen were scarce and recruiting was slow, delaying the ship's maiden voyage. In desperation, captured British seamen were pressed into service at Philadelphia; the resulting riot forced the soldiers assigned to escort the sailors to fire into the prison windows. Finally manned, Randolph sailed down the Delaware River on 3 February 1777, and three days later rounded Cape Henlopen, on her first assignment escorting a large group of American merchantmen to sea to obtain supplies and funds for the American cause. On the 15th, the convoy separated, with some of Randolph's charges heading for France and the rest setting course for the West Indies.
thumb|Portrait of Biddle by James Peale
The frigate herself turned northward with plans to intercept , a British frigate responsible for the loss of several New England vessels involved in blockade running. A ship matching Milfords description was captured; after Biddle identified it as a French man-o'-war, he set it free. Then, as she continued the search, Randolph sprung her foremast. While the crew labored to jury-rig a replacement, the ship's mainmast broke and toppled into the sea.
Continuing the hunt was out of the question as the ship had lost much of her maneuverability and speed. Now seeking to avoid the Royal Navy's warships, Biddle ordered the ship south towards the Carolina coast. An epidemic of fever broke out as Randolph limped along, and many members of the crew died and were hastily buried at sea. Biddle also had to deal with a failed uprising by the British captives on his ship
The damage caused to Yarmouths sails and rigging prevented her from pursuing the remaining South Carolina ships as they slipped away in the darkness. Yarmouth picked up four survivors off of wreckage on 12 March. Casualties aboard Yarmouth amounted to five men killed and 12 wounded. The battle was the United States' worst naval defeat, in terms of lives lost, until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.