(1718–1802). U.S. naval officer. Esek Hopkins was born on April 26, 1718, near what is now Scituate, R.I. He commanded a large merchant fleet, making a fortune privateering. In 1775 Hopkins was put in charge of Rhode Island’s military forces and the next year became commodore of the new Continental Navy. He was dismissed from the service in 1778 and thereafter served in the Rhode Island legislature.