Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Fiske, John (naval officer)

FISKE, John, naval officer, b. in Salem, Mass., 10 April, 1744; d. there, 28 Sept., 1797. He was a son of the Rev. Samuel Fiske, of the first church, Salem. In 1775 he was a master mariner, and became captain of the “Tyrannicide,” the first war-vessel commissioned by the state of Massachusetts, 8 July, 1776. He made many successful cruises in her, and was engaged in several sanguinary combats. On 10 Dec, 1777, he took command of the state ship “Massachusetts,” a larger and a better vessel. After the war he engaged in commerce, and became wealthy. He was commissioned major-general of militia in 1792.