John Carnes

Captain John Carnes, by William Verstille, c. 1800, Peabody Essex Museum

Captain John Carnes of Salem, Massachusetts (c. 1756–1796), was a privateer.

He served as the captain of the General Lincoln and carried letters for John Adams. He held a letter of marque from the fledgling American government to harass, sink or capture British and allied shipping.

He served as captain of the privateer Porus, at least from 1781 when he sailed in company with Captain Samuel Tucker of the Thorn. Carnes led an expedition of four privateer vessels against the British-held island of Tortola, but with disappointing results. The plan to surprise the island was discovered and failing that the expedition, after some hot exchanges of cannon fire with pursued shipping, withdrew due to a British squadron being alerted to their presence in the area.

He later brought back the first shipload of pepper bought directly from the natives of the Dutch Spice Islands and, thus, opened the way to that trade in America and made a fortune in the process.

Legacy His portrait hangs in the Salem Historical Society Museum.

Citations and references