
Francis Marion, also known as the 'Swamp Fox', was born in 1732 on his family's plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina. At the age of 15, Marion joined the crew of a schooner bound for the West Indies and the Caribbean. However, the ship was struck by a whale and sank, leaving Marion and the other surviving crew members to drift at sea for a week before reaching shore. This experience ended Marion's maritime career, and he returned to managing his family's plantation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boat's destination | West Indies |
| Boat's origin | Charleston |
| Boat's fate | Sank |
| Reason for sinking | Rammed by a whale |
| Number of crew | 7 |
| Number of survivors | 5 |
| Number of days drifting | 6-7 |
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What You'll Learn

Francis Marion's boat went to the West Indies
Marion's boat had set off from Charleston, South Carolina. On their way back, a whale rammed the schooner and sank it. The captain and crew escaped in a boat and drifted for six days. Two men died; the day after, they were rescued by another vessel.
After this experience, Francis Marion decided to give up sailing and returned to his family's plantation in South Carolina. He began managing the plantation and later joined the military, serving with Marion's Brigade, South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution. Despite his decision to stay on land, Marion did not give up his sense of adventure. He became known as the "Swamp Fox" for his ability to evade capture and move quickly through the treacherous waters of the Atlantic and Caribbean.
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The boat was rammed by a whale
Francis Marion was born around 1732 on his family's plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina. He joined the crew of a schooner bound for the Caribbean at the age of fifteen. However, the voyage ended abruptly when the ship was struck by a whale and sank.
Five of the seven-man crew survived and managed to escape in a lifeboat. They drifted for a week until they finally reached the shore. Francis Marion declared that he had had enough of sailing and decided to stay ashore, managing his family's plantation.
Francis Marion did not give up his sense of adventure, however. He began his military career in 1757, shortly before his 25th birthday, serving with Marion's Brigade, South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution. He earned the nickname the "Swamp Fox" due to his ability to evade the British cavalry.
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The boat sank
Francis Marion's boat sank when he was just 15 years old. Marion had joined the crew of a schooner bound for the West Indies from Charleston. However, the voyage ended in disaster when the ship was struck by a whale and sank. Marion and the other crew members found themselves adrift in a small boat for a week before finally reaching shore. Two of the seven-man crew died during this ordeal.
Marion had always been a restless child, spending his time hunting, fishing, and riding horses on his family's plantation in South Carolina. At 15, he decided he wanted to see more of the world and signed on with the schooner. Unfortunately, his maritime adventure ended in tragedy, and he returned home, vowing to stay on land.
The sinking of the schooner was a traumatic event for Marion and the other crew members. They spent a week drifting at sea, facing the harsh elements and the constant threat of death. It is a testament to their resilience and determination that they managed to survive for so long. Finally, they reached shore, but the experience had left its mark on Marion, who decided to give up his dream of a life at sea.
The exact location of where the boat sank is unknown, but it was likely somewhere in the treacherous waters of the Atlantic or Caribbean. The crew's week-long drift could have taken them far from their original course, and the specific coordinates of their rescue have not been recorded. However, we do know that they eventually made it to shore, ending their harrowing journey.
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The crew drifted for a week
Francis Marion was born around 1732 on his family plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina. He was a small and restless child. At the age of 15, he embarked on a career as a sailor, joining the crew of a schooner bound for the Caribbean. The voyage ended when the ship sank, reportedly due to being struck by a whale.
The crew drifted in a small boat for a week, with Marion and the other surviving crew members finally reaching the shore. Marion returned home, opting to stay on land as a farmer before later joining the military. He began his military career in 1757, shortly before his 25th birthday.
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Marion returned home to South Carolina
After his ship sank, Francis Marion returned home to his family's plantation in South Carolina. He had been born on the plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina, in 1732, and had spent his childhood hunting, fishing and riding horses there.
Marion's maritime adventure had been a short-lived one. At the age of 15, he had joined the crew of a schooner bound for the West Indies, but the ship was struck by a whale and sank. Marion and the other surviving crew members drifted in a small boat for a week before finally reaching the shore.
Marion's return to South Carolina marked a turning point in his life. He gave up his dream of a maritime vocation and instead focused on managing his family's plantation. However, he did not give up his spirit of adventure entirely. Shortly before his 25th birthday, he began his military career, serving with Marion's Brigade, South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.
Marion's military exploits earned him the nickname the "Swamp Fox". In November 1780, he evaded the British cavalrymen for nearly seven hours and twenty-six miles, eventually escaping into the Carolina swamp. The British cavalryman, Banastre Tarleton, gave up the pursuit, saying, "as for this damned old fox, the Devil himself could not catch him".
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Frequently asked questions
Francis Marion's boat went to the West Indies.
Francis Marion's boat was rammed by a whale and sank.
Francis Marion and the rest of the crew escaped in a boat and drifted for six days. Two men died; the day after, they were rescued by another vessel.














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