This Day in Naval History - April 04

From the Navy News Service

1776 - The Continental Navy frigate Columbus captures HM Tender Hawke; this is the first American capture of a British armed vessel. 1854 - Sailors and Marines from sailing sloop Plymouth, protect U.S. citizens at Shanghai. 1898 - Appointment of the first Civil Engineering Corps officer, Rear Adm. Mordecai Endicott, as chief of Bureau of Yards and Docks. 1949 - NATO is established.