The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. The fleet cumulatively became relatively substantial through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, when considering the limitations imposed upon the Patriot supply pool. The main goal of the navy was to intercept shipments of British matériel and generally disrupt British maritime commercial operations. The initial fleet consisted of converted merchantmen because of the lack of funding, manpower, and resources, with exclusively designed warships being built later in the conflict. The vessels that successfully made it to sea met with success only rarely, and the effort contributed little to the overall outcome of the war. The fleet did serve to highlight a few examples of Continental resolve, notably launching Captain John Barry into the limelight. It provided needed experience for a generation of officers who went on to command conflicts which involved the early American navy. Since the outbreak of open hostilities with the British in April, little consideration had been given to protection by sea until Congress received news that a British naval fleet was on its way. In November, the Continental Navy was formally organized, and in December Esek Hopkins was appointed the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy. His first fleet consisted of seven ships: two 24-gun frigates, the Alfred and the Columbus; two 14-gun brigs, the Andrea Doria and the Cabot; and three schooners, the Hornet, the Wasp, and the Fly. During the American Revolution, the Continental Navy successfully preyed on British merchant shipping and won several victories over British warships. On the stamp, the artist depicted one of these victories. There are many paintings on the American Revolution. For example, a picture depicting the cruiser of the Navy of Virginia, Captain Barron, taking the British naval brig HMS Oxford, is displayed in the Navy Art Gallery in Washington Navy Yard. After being disbanded for several years, the United States Navy was formally established with the creation of the Department of the Navy in April 1798.
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Source: http://www.history.com/this day in history/continental navy established; wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Navy