The Lynx was a fine example of the type of privateer schooner built during the war of 1812. This beautiful vessel represented the highest development of the Baltimore Clipper style of marine design. These ships were light, with sharply raked stem and sternpost, heavy with rigging, and, like nothing else on the sea at that time.
The shipbuilders of this period were not educated naval architects, but had a practical knowledge arrived at through the constant building and testing of fast vessels. This gave them the ability to design ships that combined seaworthiness and agility with a high rate of speed. One conspicuous feature of this style was the use of new cotton duck rather than flax for sails. Cotton sails were lighter and held the wind better, resulting in faster speed.
The Lynx, launched in 1812, was an active and powerful small fighting ship which had a successful career as a privateer marauding British transports which were bringing troops to fight the war on land. She was 95 feet long, carried 6 twelve-pounder guns, a crew of 40, and displaced 224 tons.
At dawn on April 3, 1813, she and four other fast schooners were hiding in the mouth of the Rappahannock River in the Chesapeake Bay waiting to run the British blockade when they were taken under fire by a British fleet comprising two 14 gun warships, two frigates, and two brigs. After a desperate defense, all of the American ships were disabled and captured with the lost of most crew members. The captured Lynx was taken to England, rebuilt, and renamed the Mosquidabit. She never saw action again.
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