On the 4th of March, 1778, Captain Samuel Chew lost his life in hand-to-hand combat while commanding the USS Resistance. The American brigatine was engaged with a superior British ship sailing under a Letter-of-Marque, but was able to disengage and return to Boston safely. A few months later, the HMS Ariel captured the Resistance and burnt her.

For more on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Chew_(captain)