During the
American Revolutionary War,
USS Bourbon was authorized as a 28-gun
frigate by the
Continental Congress 23 January 1777 and built at
Chatham, Connecticut[?], under the supervision of
John Cotten[?]. In October
1779 Captain
Thomas Read[?] was ordered to her command with instructions to outfit her. Due largely to a shortage of money she was not launched until
31 July 1783. In September 1783, still uncompleted, she was offered for sale.