David Porter, Sr.,

A Patriot of the American Revolution for MASSACHUSETTS with the rank of NAVAL CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor # A090953

David Porter, Sr. was a commercial sea captain in the Boston area. He was employed by the privateer owner Mungo Mackay, during the war for independence, as a ship captain. Reference: Wikipedia article on Mungo Mackay.

Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution by Allen notes that Porter was Commander of the privateer American Tartar and the privateer Assurance as well as several other privateers of the time.

Privateers were not official naval vessels. They operated as private enterprises. If a capture of a enemy vessel was made then the captain and crew and owners shared in the resulting profits when the cargo and ship were sold. It was a very profitable business.