Jacob Nagle (1761-1841) was born in the American colony of Pennsylvania and fought in the American Revolution (War of Independence) in 1777 and 1778. From 1780, as a seaman, he went out on speculative cruises aboard various privateers along the east coast, before being captured by the Royal Navy in November 1781. He transferred to HMS Sirius in March 1787 and sailed on her with the First Fleet to Sydney Cove.

Nagle's memoir records his travels as a seaman and quartermaster in the Royal Navy.