Defender was the victorious defender of the 1895 America's Cup against British challenger Valkyrie III. It was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1895.

DEFENDER'S FIRST RACE; Vigilant Beaten by Nearly Three Minutes on a 30-Knot Course. THE DEFENDER WAS BADLY HANDLED Overstood the Mark Nearly Five Minutes in the Thrash to Windward

The new cutter which is to be the defender of the America's Cup in the yacht races against the British cutter Valkyrie had her first trial over the outside course yesterday. The Vigilant, which has successfully defended the cup against the previous Valkyrie, was used as a trial boat.