New London Lighthouse: America's Fourth Light Station

The New London Harbor Lighthouse was the fourth constructed in the colonies. Boston, established in 1716, was the first; Brant Point, erected in 1746 on Nantucket Island, was the second, and Beavertail, constructed in 1749, was third. The present New London Harbor Tower was constructed in 1800. For many years the mouth of the Thames River in Connecticut was one of the best natural harbors on the New England Coast. It is not surprising that a town named New London was established at the mouth of the river at an early date. Nor is it surprising that the inhabitants took an active interest in shipping. However, the rocky and reef strewn nature of the port approach has always been a hazard to vessels. This was probably the driving force behind merchant and ship owner efforts to erect a lighthouse. A group of local merchants, led by Gurdon Saltenstall, petitioned the General Assembly of Connecticut to construct a lighthouse.