Alfred was the merchant vessel Black Prince, named for Edward, the Black Prince, and launched in 1774. The Continental Navy of what would become the United States acquired her in 1775, renamed her Alfred after 9th century English monarch Alfred the Great, and commissioned her as a warship. She participated in two major actions, the battle of Nassau, and the action of 6 April 1776. The Royal Navy captured her in 1778, took her into service as HMS Alfred, and sold her in 1782. She then became the merchantman Alfred, and sailed between London and Jamaica.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Alfred
The Raid of Nassau (March 1–10, 1776) was a naval operation and amphibious assault by Colonial forces against the British port of Nassau, Bahamas, during the American Revolutionary War (also known as the American War of Independence). The battle is considered one of the first engagements of the newly established Continental Navy and the Continental Marines, the respective progenitors of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The action was also the Marines' first amphibious landing. It is sometimes known as the "Battle of Nassau".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_of_Nassau
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–1776 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Sense
Thomas Paine (born Thomas Pain) (February 9, 1737 [O.S. January 29, 1736-June 8, 1809) was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine
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