History of Gun Salutes

• Gun salutes have been performed for centuries.
• Early warriors placed weapons in a position to show they were not a threat.
• In the 14th century, firearms and cannons discharged their projectile before entering a port to demonstrate they were unloaded.
• Gun salutes in odd numbers may be from the belief that odd numbers were lucky.
• Seven was believed to have mystical powers.
• Gunpowder was stored more readily ashore, forts fired three shots for each shot fired afloat.
• Salutes with an even number of guns signified the death of the captain or ship master.
• The number of guns varied by country over the years.
• By 1730 the Royal Navy prescribed 21 guns for anniversary dates.
• The salute to the royal family became mandatory later in the 18th Century.

Incidents Involving Gun Salutes

• On November 16, 1776, the Continental Navy brigantine Andrew Doria fired a 13 gun salute.
• The ship entered the harbor of St. Eustatius in the West Indies under Captain Isaiah Robinson
• Some accounts say 11 guns.
• The Dutch governor returned a salute of 9 (or 11) guns.
• The 13 guns represented the 13 newly formed United States, the customary salute rendered to a republic was 9 guns.
• Some consider this is the “first salute” to the American flag.
• About three weeks before this, an American schooner had its colors saluted at St. Croix.
• The flag flown was the Grand Union flag which had thirteen red and white stripes with the British Jack.
• The first official salute to the Stars and Stripes was on February 14, 1778,
• The Continental Navy ship Ranger, under Captain John Paul Jones, fired 13 guns, and got 9 in return.
• This was from the French fleet anchored in Quiberon Bay, France.

Gun Salute Regulations

• U.S. Navy regulations for 1818 first prescribed how to render gun salutes.
• Regulations stated that the President visiting a ship of the United States' Navy was to be saluted with 21 guns.
• At the time, twenty-one was the number of states in the Union.
• For a time there was a salute of one gun for each state in the Union but there were variations.
• A "national salute" was rendered on 22 February (Washington's Birthday) and 4 July (Independence Day).
• A 21 gun salute for the President and heads of state, Washington's Birthday, and the Fourth of July became standard on May 24, 1842.
• Regulations specified protocols for visits by the President to naval vessels.
• The yards were manned, officers on deck, full guard paraded, music played, and a 21-gun salute fired.
• Similar regulations existed for anniversaries like Independence Day and Washington's Birthday.

Modern Day Salutes

• Today, the national salute of 21 guns honors the flag, foreign heads of state, royal family members, the President, former Presidents, and President-elect.
• 21 guns are fired at noon on the day of the funeral of a President, former President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July.
• On Memorial Day, a salute of twenty-one minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half-mast.
• Hand salutes showed that the renderer of the salute was unarmed
• The Continental Navy brigantine fired 13 guns on entering the harbor, representing United States
• The first written instruction on the 21-gun salute comes from 1818, signifying a presidential visit.
• In 1818, there were 21 guns for 21 states.
• The three volleys fired don't not equal a 21-gun salute

Gun salutes have been performed for centuries to show respect or demonstrate peace. The tradition evolved from early warriors displaying their lack of threat by positioning weapons. Over time, gun salutes became standardized, with the Royal Navy prescribing 21 guns for anniversary dates by 1730.