Who was the Commodore that fired the first American naval shots against the British in the Revolutionary War?

The correct answer is Commodore Abraham Whipple, who was involved in the early naval engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Whipple commanded the Continental Navy ship Providence and played a significant role in a naval confrontation in 1775, specifically the attack on a British armed transport ship which marked one of the first instances of American naval action against British forces. This established an early precedent for American naval resistance and set the tone for subsequent naval operations throughout the conflict.

The other names listed are notable figures in naval history, but they were not the ones who initiated the first naval shots against the British during the Revolutionary War. John Paul Jones is often celebrated as a hero of the Revolution but gained fame later in the war. William Bainbridge and Stephen Decatur were prominent naval commanders in the early 19th century, particularly during the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars, respectively, and their contributions occurred long after the Revolutionary War had ended.