USS President (1800)

Last updated

Usspresidentatanchor.jpg
President rides out a storm at anchor.
History
US flag 15 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS President
Namesake President of the United States
Ordered27 March 1794 [1]
BuilderInitially Forman Cheesman; later Christian Bergh
Cost$220,910 [2]
Laid down1798 [3]
Launched10 April 1800 [4]
Maiden voyage5 August 1800
Captured15 January 1815
General characteristics
Class and type44-gun Frigate
Tonnage1,576 tons [5]
Length175 ft (53 m) between perpendiculars
Beam44 ft 4 in (13.51 m)
Decks Orlop, Berth, Gun, Spar
PropulsionSail
Armament
  • 32 × 24-pounder guns(10.9 kg)
  • 22 × 42-pounder guns(19 kg) carronades
  • 1 × 18-pounder (8 kg) long gun [5]
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameHMS President
Acquired15 January 1815
FateBroken up, 1818 [lower-alpha 1]
General characteristics [6]
Class and type
  • 50-gun
  • 60-gun (1817)
Tons burthen1533 7⁄94 (bm)
Length
  • 173 ft 3 in (52.8 m) (overall);
  • 146 ft 4+3⁄4 in (44.6 m) (keel)
Beam44 ft 4 in (13.5 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 11 in (4.2 m)
Armament
  • 30 × 24-pounder guns (10.9 kg)
  • 28 × 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades
  • 2 × 24-pounder guns (10.9 kg)

USS President was a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy, nominally rated at 44 guns; she was launched in April 1800 from a shipyard in New York City. President was one of the original six frigates whose construction the Naval Act of 1794 had authorized, and she was the last to be completed. The name "President" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March of 1795 for the frigates that were to be constructed. [7] [8] Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so President and her sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. Forman Cheeseman, and later Christian Bergh were in charge of her construction. Her first duties with the newly formed United States Navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi War with France and to engage in a punitive expedition against the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.

Contents

On 16 May 1811, President was at the center of the Little Belt affair; her crew mistakenly identified HMS Little Belt as HMS Guerriere, which had impressed an American seaman. The ships exchanged cannon fire for several minutes. Subsequent U.S. and Royal Navy investigations placed responsibility for the attack on each other without a resolution. The incident contributed to tensions between the U.S. and Great Britain that led to the War of 1812.

During the war, President made several extended cruises, patrolling as far away as the English Channel and Norway; she captured the armed schooner HMS Highflyer and numerous merchant ships. In January 1815, after having been blockaded in New York for a year by the Royal Navy, President attempted to run the blockade, and was chased by a blockading squadron. During the chase, she was engaged and crippled by the frigate HMS Endymion off the coast of the city. The British squadron captured President soon after, and the Royal Navy took her into service as HMS President until she was broken up in 1818. President's design was copied and used to build the next HMS President in 1829.

Design and construction

During the 1790s, American merchant vessels began to fall prey to Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean, most notably from Algiers. Congress's response was the Naval Act of 1794. [9] The Act provided funds for the construction of six frigates; however, it included a clause stating that construction of the ships would cease if the United States agreed to peace terms with Algiers. [10] [11]

Joshua Humphreys' design was long on keel and narrow of beam (width) to allow for mounting very heavy guns. The design incorporated a diagonal scantling (rib) scheme to limit hogging (warping); the ships were given extremely heavy planking. This gave the hull greater strength than those of more lightly built frigates. Humphreys developed his design after realizing that the fledgling United States Navy could not match the navies of the European states for size. He therefore designed his frigates to be able to overpower other frigates, but with the speed to escape from a ship of the line. [12] [13] [14]

George Washington named President in order to reflect a principle of the United States Constitution. [10] [15] In March 1796, before President's keel could be laid down, a peace accord was announced between the United States and Algiers. Construction was suspended in accordance with the Naval Act of 1794. [10] [11] At the onset of the Quasi-War with France in 1798, funds were approved to complete her construction, and her keel was laid at a shipyard in New York City. Her original naval constructor was Forman Cheeseman and the superintendent was Captain Silas Talbot. [1] [3]

Based on experience Humphreys gained during construction of President's sister ships, Constitution and United States, he instructed Cheeseman to make alterations to the frigate's design. These included raising the gun deck by 2 in (5.1 cm) and moving the main mast 2 ft (61 cm) further rearward. [3] President was built to a length of 175 ft (53 m) between perpendiculars and a beam of 44.4 ft (13.5 m). [5]

Although construction was begun at New York in the shipyard of Foreman Cheesman, work on her was discontinued in 1796. Construction resumed in 1798, under Christian Bergh and naval constructor William Doughty. [16]

Armament

President's nominal rating was that of a 44-gun ship. However, she usually carried over 50 guns. [17] During her service in the War of 1812, President was armed with a battery of 55 guns: thirty-two 24-pounder (10.9 kg) cannon, twenty-two 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades, and one 18-pounder (8 kg) long gun. [5]

During her Royal Navy service as HMS President, she was initially rated at 50 guns, although she was at this stage armed with 60 cannons—thirty 24-pounder guns (10.9 kg) on the upper deck, twenty-eight 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades on the spar deck, plus two more 24-pounder guns on the forecastle. In February 1817, she was again re-rated, this time to 60 guns. [6] [18]

Unlike modern Navy vessels, ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns. Guns were portable and were often exchanged between ships as situations warranted. Each commanding officer modified his vessel's armaments to his liking, taking into consideration factors such as the overall tonnage of cargo, complement of personnel aboard, and planned routes to be sailed. Consequently, a vessel's armament would change often during its career; records of the changes were not generally kept. [19]

Quasi and First Barbary Wars

Mediterranean Sea area of operation (modern-day political boundaries are shown). Mediterranean Relief, 1028 x 1024.jpg
Mediterranean Sea area of operation (modern-day political boundaries are shown).

President launched on 10 April 1800—the last of the original six frigates to do so. After her fitting out, she departed for Guadeloupe on 5 August with Captain Thomas Truxtun in command. She conducted routine patrols during the latter part of the Quasi-War and made several recaptures of American merchant ships. Nevertheless, her service in this period was uneventful. She returned to the United States in March, after a peace treaty with France was ratified on 3 February 1801. [20] During the Quasi-War, the United States paid tribute to the Barbary States to ensure that they would not seize or harass American merchant ships. [21] In 1801 Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli, dissatisfied with the amount of tribute in comparison to that paid to Algiers, demanded an immediate payment of $250,000. [22] Thomas Jefferson responded by sending a squadron of warships to protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean and to pursue peace with the Barbary States. [23] [24]

In May, Commodore Richard Dale selected President as his flagship for the assignment in the Mediterranean. Dale's orders were to present a show of force off Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis and maintain peace with promises of tribute. Dale was authorized to commence hostilities at his discretion if any Barbary State had declared war by the time of his arrival. [23] [24] Dale's squadron consisted of President, Philadelphia, Essex, and Enterprise. [25] The squadron arrived at Gibraltar on 1 July; President and Enterprise quickly continued to Algiers, where their presence convinced the regent to withdraw threats he had made against American merchant ships. [26] [27] President and Enterprise subsequently made appearances at Tunis and Tripoli before President arrived at Malta on 16 August to replenish drinking water supplies. [28]

Blockading the harbor of Tripoli on 24 August, President captured a Greek vessel with Tripolitan soldiers aboard. Dale negotiated an exchange of prisoners that resulted in the release of several Americans held captive in Tripoli. [29] [30] President arrived at Gibraltar on 3 September. [31] Near Mahón in early December, President struck a large rock while traveling at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph). The impact brought Dale on deck and he successfully navigated President out of danger. An inspection revealed that the impact had twisted off a short section of her keel. [32] President remained in the Mediterranean until March 1802; she departed for the United States and arrived on 14 April. [33]

Although President remained in the United States, operations against the Barbary States continued. A second squadron assembled under the command of Richard Valentine Morris in Chesapeake. Morris' poor performance resulted in his recall and subsequent dismissal from the Navy in 1803. [34] A third squadron assembled under the command of Edward Preble in Constitution; by July 1804, they had fought the Battle of Tripoli Harbor. [35]

Second Barbary patrol

In April 1804, President Jefferson decided to reinforce Preble's squadron. President, Congress, Constellation, and Essex prepared to sail as soon as possible under the direction of Commodore Samuel Barron. [36] Barron selected President as his flagship, but she required a new bowsprit and repairs to her masts and rigging. Some two months passed before the squadron was ready to sail. They departed in late June and arrived at Gibraltar on 12 August. [37] [38]

President left Gibraltar on 16 August with Constellation; the frigates paused at Malta before arriving off Tripoli on 10 September, joining Constitution, Argus, and Vixen. [39] Sighting three ships running the blockade of Tripoli, the squadron moved in to capture them; during the pursuit, a sudden change in wind direction caused President to collide with Constitution. The collision caused serious damage to Constitution's stern, bow, and figurehead. Two of the captured ships were sent to Malta with Constitution; President sailed to Syracuse, Sicily, arriving on 27 August. [40] [41]

When Barron arrived in the Mediterranean, his seniority of rank over Preble entitled him to assume the duties of commodore. [42] However, soon after replacing Preble, Barron went ashore at Syracuse in poor health and became bedridden. [43] Under command of Captain George Cox, President began routine blockade duties of Tripoli during the winter months of 1804–05. In late April 1805, Constitution captured three ships off Tripoli. President escorted them to port at Malta before rejoining Constitution. [44]

Barron's fragile health necessitated his resignation; he passed command to John Rodgers in late May 1805. [45] Barron ordered Cox to command Essex, and turned President over to his brother, James Barron, on 29 May. [43] On 3 June, after the Battle of Derne, the U.S signed a peace treaty with Tripoli. [45] [46] President sailed for the United States on 13 July, carrying the ailing Barron and many sailors released from captivity in Tripoli. [47]

Little Belt Affair

President fires on Little Belt Little Belt, Sloop of War.jpg
President fires on Little Belt

In 1807, the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair heightened tensions between the United States and Britain. In preparation for further hostilities, Congress began authorizing naval appropriations, and President recommissioned in 1809 under the command of Commodore John Rodgers. She made routine and uneventful patrols, mainly along the United States' eastern seaboard, until 1 May 1811, when the British frigate HMS Guerriere stopped the American brig Spitfire18 mi (29 km) from New York and impressed a crewman. [48] [49] [50] [lower-alpha 2]

Rodgers received orders to pursue Guerriere, and President sailed immediately from Fort Severn on 10 May. On 16 May, approximately 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Cape Henry, a lookout spotted a sail on the horizon. Closing to investigate, Rodgers determined the sail belonged to a warship, and raised signal flags to identify his ship. The unidentified ship, later learned to be HMS Little Belt—a 20-gun sixth rate—hoisted signal flags in return, but the hoist was not understood by President's crew. Little Belt sailed southward and Rodgers, believing the ship to be Guerriere, pursued. [52] [53]

Darkness set in before the ships were within hailing distance, and Rodgers hailed twice, only to have the same question returned to him: "What ship is that?" [48] [54] According to Rodgers, immediately after the exchange of hails, Little Belt fired a shot that tore through President's rigging. Rodgers returned fire. Little Belt promptly answered with three guns, and then a whole broadside. Rodgers ordered his gun crews to fire at will; several accurate broadsides heavily damaged Little Belt in return. After five minutes of firing, President's crew realized their adversary was much smaller than a frigate and Rodgers ordered a cease fire. However, Little Belt fired again and President answered with more broadsides. After Little Belt became silent, President stood off and waited overnight. At dawn it was obvious that Little Belt was greatly damaged from the fight; Rodgers sent a boat over from President to offer assistance in repairing the damage. Her Captain, Arthur Bingham, acknowledged the damage; declining any help, he sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia. [55] President had one sailor slightly wounded in the exchange, while Little Belt suffered 31 killed or wounded. [54] [56] [57]

Upon President's return to port, the U.S. Navy launched an investigation into the incident. Gathering testimony from President's officers and crewmen, they determined that Little Belt had fired the first shot in the encounter. In the Royal Navy investigation, Captain Bingham insisted that President had fired the first shot and continued firing for 45 minutes, rather than the five minutes Rodgers claimed. In all subsequent reports, both captains continually insisted that the other ship had fired the first shot. Reaching a stalemate, the American and British governments quietly dropped the matter. [58] [59] [60]

War of 1812

A cannon explodes during the pursuit of HMS Belvidera Presidentgunexplosion.jpg
A cannon explodes during the pursuit of HMS Belvidera

The United States declared war against Britain on 18 June 1812. Three days later, within an hour of receiving official word of the declaration, Commodore Rodgers sailed from New York City. The commodore sailed aboard President, leading a squadron consisting of United States, Congress, Hornet, and Argus on a 70-day North Atlantic cruise. [61] [62] A passing American merchant ship informed Rodgers about a fleet of British merchantmen en route to Britain from Jamaica. Rodgers and his squadron sailed in pursuit, and on 23 June they encountered what was later learned to be HMS Belvidera. [61] [63] President pursued the ship, and in what is recorded as the first shot of the War of 1812, Rodgers himself aimed and fired a bowchaser at Belvidera, striking her rudder and penetrating the gun room. [64] [65] Upon President's fourth shot at Belvidera, a cannon one deck below Rodgers burst, killing or wounding 16 sailors and throwing Rodgers to the deck with enough force to break his leg. [66] [67]

The ensuing confusion allowed Belvidera to fire her stern chasers, killing six more men aboard President. Rodgers kept up the pursuit, using his bow chasers to severely damage Belvidera's rigging, but his two broadsides had little effect. [66] The crew of Belvidera quickly made repairs to the rigging. They cut loose her anchors and boats and pumped drinking water overboard to lighten her load, thereby increasing her speed. Belvidera soon gained enough speed to distance herself from President, and Rodgers abandoned the pursuit. Belvidera sailed to Halifax to deliver the news that war had been declared. [68] [69]

President and her squadron returned to the pursuit of the Jamaican fleet, and on 1 July began to follow the trail of coconut shells and orange peels the Jamaicans had left behind them. [70] President sailed to within one day's journey of the English Channel, but never sighted the convoy. Rodgers called off the pursuit on 13 July. During their return trip to Boston, Rodgers' squadron captured seven merchant ships and recaptured one American vessel. [67] [71]

After some refitting, President, still under Rodgers' command, sailed on 8 October with Congress, United States, and Argus. On 12 October, United States and Argus parted from the squadron for their own patrols. [72] On 10 October, President chased HMS Nymphe, but failed to overtake her. On 17 October President captured the British packet ship Swallow, which carried a large amount of currency on board. [73] [74] On 31 October, President and Congress began pursuit of HMS Galatea, which was escorting two merchant ships. The chase lasted about three hours, and in that time Congress captured the merchant ship Argo. Meanwhile, President kept after Galatea and drew very close, but lost sight of her in the night. [74] Congress and President remained together, but did not find any ships to capture during November. Returning to the United States, they passed north of Bermuda and proceeded toward the Virginia capes; they arrived in Boston on 31 December, having taken nine prizes. [74] President and Congress found themselves blockaded there by the Royal Navy until April 1813. [75]

John Rodgers, ca. 1813 John Rodgers (naval officer, War of 1812).jpg
John Rodgers, ca. 1813

On 30 April, President and Congress sailed through the blockade on their third cruise of the war. On 2 May, they pursued HMS Curlew, but she outran them and escaped. [76] President parted company with Congress on 8 May, and Rodgers set a course along the Gulf Stream to search for merchant ships to capture. [76] By June, not having come across a single ship, President turned north; she put into North Bergen, Norway, on 27 June to replenish her drinking water. [77] Sailing soon after, President captured two British merchant ships, which helped to replenish her stores. [78] On 10 June President captured the outward-bound Falmouth packet Duke of Montrose, Captain Aaron Groub Blewett, which managed to throw her mails overboard before President could send a prize crew aboard. President made a cartel of Duke of Montrose, putting all of President's prisoners on board and then sending her into Falmouth under the command of an American officer. When Duke of Montrose arrived at Falmouth the British Government abrogated the cartel on the grounds that they had advised the American Government that the British would not recognize agreements entered into on the high seas. [79]

Around the same time, two Royal Navy ships came into view. President set all sails to escape, and outran them in a chase lasting 80 hours. [78] Rodgers reported that his decision to flee the ships was based on identifying them as a ship of the line and a frigate. Royal Navy records later revealed that the vessels were actually the 32-gun frigate Alexandria and the 16-gun fireship Spitfire. [80]

Spending a few days near the Irish Channel, President captured several more merchant ships. She then set a course for the United States. In late September, she encountered HMS Highflyer along the east coast of the United States. Rodgers used his signal flags to trick Highflyer into believing that President was HMS Tenedos. [81] Lieut. George Hutchinson, Highflyer's captain, came aboard President only to discover he had walked into a trap; President captured Highflyer without a shot being fired. President's long cruise netted her 11 merchant ships, in addition to Highflyer. [82] [83]

President and HMS Plantagenet February 1814 American naval battles; (1837) (14764138665).jpg
President and HMS Plantagenet February 1814

On 4 December 1813, President sailed from Providence, Rhode Island. On the 25th, she encountered two frigates in the dark, one of which fired at her. Rodgers believed the ships to be British, but they were two French frigates, Méduse and Nymphe. [84] Afterward, Rodgers headed toward Barbados for an eight-week cruise in the West Indies, reportedly making three small captures, among them the British merchant ships Wanderer, which she captured on 4 January 1814 in the Atlantic Ocean at approximately 13°N51°W / 13°N 51°W / 13; -51 and sank, [85] and Edward, which she captured and sank on 9 January. [86] Returning to New York City on 18 February 1814, President encountered HMS Loire, which turned to escape once the latter's crew realized President was a 44-gun frigate. [87] [88] President remained in New York for the duration of 1814 due to the harbor's blockade by a British squadron consisting of HMS Endymion, Majestic, Pomone, and Tenedos. [89]

Capture

President vs Endymion President and endymion.jpg
President vs Endymion

Stephen Decatur assumed command of President in December 1814, planning a cruise to the West Indies to prey on British shipping. In mid-January 1815, a snowy gale with strong winds forced the British blockading squadron away from New York Harbor, giving Decatur the opportunity to put to sea. On the evening of 14 January, President headed out of the harbor but ran aground, the result of harbor pilots incorrectly marking a safe passage. Stranded on the sand bar, President lifted and dropped with the incoming tide. Within two hours her hull had been damaged, her timbers twisted, and masts sprung. Damage to her keel caused the ship to hog and sag. Decatur was finally able to float President off the bar and, assessing the damage, he decided to return to New York for repairs; however, the wind direction was not favorable and President was forced to head out to sea. [90] [91] [92]

Unaware of the exact location of the blockading squadron, Decatur set a course to avoid them and seek a safe port, but approximately two hours later the squadron's sails were spotted on the horizon. President changed course to outrun them, but the damage she suffered the night before had significantly reduced her speed. [93] Attempting to gain speed, Decatur ordered expendable cargo thrown overboard; by late afternoon of 15 January, HMS Endymion under Captain Henry Hope came alongside and proceeded to fire broadsides. [94] [95] Decatur planned to bring President in close to Endymion, whereby President's crew could board and capture the opposing ship and sail her to New York. (President would be scuttled to prevent her capture). [96] [97]

Making several attempts to close on Endymion, Decatur discovered that President's damage limited her maneuverability, allowing Endymion to anticipate, and draw away from, positions favorable for boarding. Faced with this new dilemma, Decatur ordered bar and chain shot fired to disable Endymion's sails and rigging, the idea being to shake his pursuer and allow President to proceed to a safe port without being followed. At noon, Endymion, being the much better sailer, was close-hauled, outpacing her squadron and leaving them behind. At 2 pm, she gained on President and took position on the American ship's quarter, shooting into President as she tried to escape. Endymion was able to rake President three times and did considerable damage to her; by contrast, President primarily directed her fire at Endymion's rigging in order to slow her down during the two-hour engagement. [96] [98]

Finally at 7:58 pm, President ceased fire and hoisted a light in her rigging, indicating that she had surrendered. Endymion ceased firing on the defeated American ship but did not board to take possession of her prize, due to a lack of undamaged boats. Endymion's foresails had been damaged in the engagement and while she hove to for repairs, Decatur took advantage of the situation and, despite having struck, made off to escape at 8:30 pm; Endymion, hastily completed repairs and resumed the chase at 8:52 pm. [99]

President drew away while her crew made hurried repairs of their own. Within two hours, one of her lookouts spotted the remainder of the enemy squadron drawing near. President continued her escape attempt, but by nightfall HMS Pomone and Tenedos had caught up and began firing broadsides. Realizing his situation, Decatur surrendered President again, just before midnight. [100] [101]

As HMS President

Now in possession of the Royal Navy, President and her crew were ordered to proceed to Bermuda with Endymion. During the journey, they encountered a dangerous gale. The storm destroyed President's masts and strained her timbers so badly that all the upper-deck guns were thrown overboard to prevent her from sinking. [102] The cartel Clarendon, Garness, master, brought 400 prisoners from President from Bermuda back to New York. On 7 April 1815 Clarendon grounded at Sandy Hook but crew, passengers, and prisoners were all saved. [103] [104]

Upon the prisoners' return to the United States, a U.S. Navy court martial board acquitted Decatur, his officers, and his men of any wrongdoing in the surrender of President. [18] [105]

President and Endymion continued to England, arriving at Spithead on 28 March. President was commissioned into the Royal Navy under the name HMS President. Her initial rating was set at 50 guns, although she was at this stage armed with 60 cannons—thirty 24-pounders (10.9 kg) on the upper deck, twenty-eight 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades on the spar deck, plus two more 24-pounder guns on the forecastle. In February 1817 she was again re-rated, this time to 60 guns. [6] [18]

1829 HMS President in South West India Dock, London, ca. 1880; broken up in 1903 HMS President in South West India Dock, London, ca. 1880 (5375139968).jpg
1829 HMS President in South West India Dock, London, ca. 1880; broken up in 1903

In March 1818 she was considered for refitting. A drydock inspection revealed that the majority of her timber was defective or rotten and she was broken up at Portsmouth in June. [6] President's design was copied and used to build HMS President in 1829, although this was reportedly more of a political maneuver than a testament to the design: the Royal Navy wished to retain the name and likeness of the American ship on their register as a reminder to the United States and other nations of the capture. [106] [107]

Notes

  1. ↑ American sources claim President was broken up in 1817, while British sources give 1818. In this instance, it is likely that British Admiralty records are more accurate, as the ship was in their possession.
  2. ↑ There was a U.S. Navy ship named Spitfire in service during this period, but sources are not clear if the Spitfire mentioned here was a U.S. Navy ship. This Spitfire is invariably described as "a merchant brig" or "American brig". The DANFS article on the U.S. Navy ship Spitfire makes no mention of the impressment incident, but the descriptions of both ships are very similar. [51]

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Navy History: Federal/Quasi War". Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 6 February 1997. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  2. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 48.
  3. 1 2 3 Toll (2006), p. 107.
  4. ↑ Toll (2006), p. 138.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "President". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command . Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Winfield (2008), p. 124.
  7. ↑ Pickering, Timothy (14 March 1795). Letter to George Washington. Founders Online, National Archives. Retrieved 25 September 2019
  8. ↑ Brodine, Charles E.; Crawford, Michael J.; Hughes, Christine F. (2007). Ironsides! the Ship, the Men and the Wars of the USS Constitution. Fireship Press. p. 8. ISBN   9781934757147.
  9. ↑ Allen (1909), pp. 41–42.
  10. 1 2 3 Beach (1986), p. 29.
  11. 1 2 An Act to provide a Naval Armament. 1  Stat.   350 (1794). Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  12. ↑ Toll (2006), pp. 49–53.
  13. ↑ Beach (1986), pp. 29–30, 33.
  14. ↑ Allen (1909), pp. 42–45.
  15. ↑ Toll (2006), p. 61.
  16. ↑ Canney, Donald (2001), Sailing Warships of the US Navy p. 38.
  17. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), pp. 55–56.
  18. 1 2 3 Toll (2006), p. 445.
  19. ↑ Jennings (1966), pp. 17–19.
  20. ↑ Allen (1909), pp. 217, 221.
  21. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 215–216.
  22. ↑ Allen (1905), pp. 88, 90.
  23. 1 2 Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 228.
  24. 1 2 Allen (1905), p. 92.
  25. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 151.
  26. ↑ Allen (1905), pp. 94–95.
  27. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 231.
  28. ↑ Allen (1905), p. 95.
  29. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 153.
  30. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 232–233.
  31. ↑ Allen (1905), p. 98.
  32. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 233.
  33. ↑ Allen (1905), pp. 99–100.
  34. ↑ Toll (2006), p. 173.
  35. ↑ Allen (1905), p. 200.
  36. ↑ Allen (1905), pp. 198–199.
  37. ↑ Allen (1905), p. 218.
  38. ↑ Toll (2006), pp. 224–227.
  39. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 297.
  40. ↑ Allen (1905), pp. 219–220.
  41. ↑ Toll (2006), pp. 250–251.
  42. ↑ Toll (2006), p. 250.
  43. 1 2 Allen (1905), p. 220.
  44. ↑ Allen (1905), pp. 220–223.
  45. 1 2 Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 300.
  46. ↑ Allen (1905), p. 250.
  47. ↑ Allen (1905), p. 270.
  48. 1 2 Beach (1986), p. 69.
  49. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 312.
  50. ↑ Cooper (1856), pp. 233, 235.
  51. ↑ "Spitfire". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  52. ↑ Cooper (1856), pp. 235–236.
  53. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 313–314.
  54. 1 2 Toll (2006), pp. 321–322.
  55. ↑ Beach (1986), p. 70.
  56. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 314–315.
  57. ↑ Cooper (1856), pp. 236–237.
  58. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 315–316.
  59. ↑ Cooper (1856), pp. 237–238.
  60. ↑ Toll (2006), p. 323.
  61. 1 2 Roosevelt (1883), p. 73.
  62. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 322.
  63. ↑ Cooper (1856), pp. 244–245.
  64. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 323.
  65. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 74.
  66. 1 2 Roosevelt (1883), p. 75.
  67. 1 2 Cooper (1856), pp. 246–247.
  68. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 324–325.
  69. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 76.
  70. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 77.
  71. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 325–326.
  72. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 106.
  73. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 262.
  74. 1 2 3 Roosevelt (1883), p. 107.
  75. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 426–427.
  76. 1 2 Roosevelt (1883), p. 174.
  77. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 521–522.
  78. 1 2 Roosevelt (1883), p. 175.
  79. ↑ Dudley (1985), pp. 157–159.
  80. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), pp. 175–176.
  81. ↑ Hepper (1994), p. 148.
  82. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 332.
  83. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), pp. 176–177.
  84. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 217.
  85. ↑ "Ship News". The Hull Packet and Original Weekly Commercial, Literary and General Advertiser. No. 1426. 15 March 1814.
  86. ↑ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List: 78 v. 22 April 1814.
  87. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 286.
  88. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 541.
  89. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 401.
  90. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), pp. 401–402.
  91. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 641.
  92. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 429.
  93. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 430.
  94. ↑ Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 641–642.
  95. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 402.
  96. 1 2 Cooper (1856), p. 431.
  97. ↑ Toll (2006), p. 443.
  98. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 403.
  99. ↑ Lambert, Andrew (2012) The Challenge – Britain Against America in the War of 1812, (Faber and Faber) ISBN   978-0-571-27319-5 [ page needed ]
  100. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 432.
  101. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 404.
  102. ↑ Roosevelt (1883), p. 405.
  103. ↑ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4972. 19 May 1815. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735027 . Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  104. ↑ Multiple News Items. Providence Patriot, Columbian Phenix (Providence, Rhode Island), 15 April 1815; Issue 14.
  105. ↑ Cooper (1856), p. 433.
  106. ↑ Gardiner (2000), pp. 97, 140–141.
  107. ↑ Beach (1986), p. 135.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Constitution</i> 1797 heavy frigate of the U.S. Navy

USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March of 1795 for the frigates that were to be constructed. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so Constitution and her sister ships were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. She was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Her first duties were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Bainbridge</span> Commodore in the United States Navy (1774–1833)

William Bainbridge was a commodore in the United States Navy. During his long career in the young American Navy he served under six presidents beginning with John Adams and is notable for his many victories at sea. He commanded several famous naval ships, including USS Constitution, and saw service in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Bainbridge was also in command of USS Philadelphia when she grounded off the shores of Tripoli, Libya in North Africa, resulting in his capture and imprisonment for many months. In the latter part of his career he became the U.S. Naval Commissioner.

USS <i>United States</i> (1797) First of the six original frigates of the U.S. Navy

USS United States was a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the first of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The name "United States" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March of 1795 for the frigates that were to be constructed. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so United States and her sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. She was built at Humphrey's shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on 10 May 1797 and immediately began duties with the newly formed United States Navy protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France.

USS <i>Congress</i> (1799) United States Navy frigate

USS Congress was a nominally rated 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. James Hackett built her in Portsmouth New Hampshire and she was launched on 15 August 1799. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction the Naval Act of 1794 had authorized. The name "Congress" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March 1795 for the frigates that were to be constructed.Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so Congress and her sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than the standard frigates of the period.

USS <i>Constellation</i> (1797) US naval frigate commissioned in 1797

USS Constellation was a nominally rated 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Preble</span>

Edward Preble was a United States naval officer who served with great distinction during the 1st Barbary War, leading American attacks on the city of Tripoli and forming the officer corps that would later lead the U.S. Navy in the War of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Rodgers (naval officer, born 1772)</span> United States Navy officer and Secretary

John Rodgers was a senior naval officer in the United States Navy during its formative years in the 1790s through the late 1830s. He served under six presidents for nearly four decades. His service took him through many military operations in the Quasi-War with France, both Barbary Wars in North Africa, and the War of 1812 with Britain.

USS <i>Chesapeake</i> (1799) 38-gun frigate of the United States Navy

Chesapeake was a 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young navy's capital ships. Chesapeake was originally designed as a 44-gun frigate, but construction delays, material shortages and budget problems caused builder Josiah Fox to alter his design to 38 guns. Launched at the Gosport Navy Yard on 2 December 1799, Chesapeake began her career during the Quasi-War with France and later saw service in the First Barbary War.

USS <i>Argus</i> (1803)

The first USS Argus, originally named USS Merrimack, was a brig in the United States Navy commissioned in 1803. She enforced the Embargo Act of 1807 and fought in the First Barbary War – taking part in the blockade of Tripoli and the capture of Derna – and the War of 1812. During the latter conflict, she had been audaciously raiding British merchant shipping in British home waters for a month, when the heavier British Cruizer-class brig-sloopHMS Pelican intercepted her. After a sharp fight during which Argus's captain, Master Commandant William Henry Allen, was mortally wounded, Argus surrendered when the crew of Pelican were about to board.

The second USS Ontario was a three-masted, wooden-hulled sloop of war in the United States Navy, bearing 16 guns, and saw service during and following the years of the War of 1812 and in the Second Barbary War. Ontario was built by Thomas Kemp, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1813; blockaded in Chesapeake Bay through the War of 1812; and sailed from New York for the Mediterranean on 20 May 1815, Master Commandant Jesse D. Elliott in command.

Original six frigates of the United States Navy First six ships of the US Navy

The United States Congress authorized the original six frigates of the United States Navy with the Naval Act of 1794 on March 27, 1794, at a total cost of $688,888.82. These ships were built during the formative years of the United States Navy, on the recommendation of designer Joshua Humphreys for a fleet of frigates powerful enough to engage any frigates of the French or British navies, yet fast enough to evade any ship of the line.

USS <i>United States</i> vs HMS <i>Macedonian</i> Naval battle in the War of 1812

The capture of HMS Macedonian was a naval action fought near Madeira on 25 October 1812 between the heavy frigate USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur, and the frigate HMS Macedonian, under the command of John Surman Carden. The American vessel won the long bloody battle, capturing and bringing Macedonian back to the United States. It was the first British warship to ever be brought into an American harbor.

Capture of USS <i>President</i> 1812 US–British naval battle

The capture of USS President was one of many naval actions fought at the end of the War of 1812. The frigate USS President tried to break out of New York Harbor but was intercepted by a British squadron of four warships and forced to surrender.

HMS <i>Endymion</i> (1797) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Endymion was a 40-gun fifth rate that served in the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812 and during the First Opium War. She was built to the lines of the French prize Pomone captured in 1794. Due to her exceptional handling and sailing properties, the Severn-class frigates were built to her lines, although the gunports were rearranged to mount an extra pair of guns per side, the ships were made of softwood and were not built until nearly the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

HMS <i>Belvidera</i> (1809) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Belvidera was a Royal Navy 36-gun Apollo-class frigate built in Deptford in 1809. She saw action in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and continued a busy career at sea into the middle of the 19th century. In 1846 she was reduced to harbour service, in 1860 she became a receiving ship, and she was finally disposed of in 1906.

USS <i>Constitution</i> vs HMS <i>Guerriere</i> Naval battle during the War of 1812

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere was a battle between an American and British ship during the War of 1812, about 400 miles (640 km) southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took place on the 19th of August 1812, one month after the war's first engagement between British and American forces. Guerriere was proceeding to Halifax for a refit, having been detached from a squadron which had earlier failed to capture Constitution. When the two ships encountered each other on August 19th, Guerriere's Captain James Richard Dacres engaged, confident of victory against the larger, better-armed U.S. ship. The exchange of broadsides felled Guerriere's masts and reduced the ship to a sinking condition. Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board and set Guerriere on fire, then returned to Boston with news of the victory, which proved to be important for American morale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Decatur</span> United States naval officer and commodore (1779–1820)

Stephen Decatur Jr. was a U.S. naval officer and commodore. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County. His father, Stephen Decatur Sr., was a commodore in the United States Navy who served during the American Revolution; he brought the younger Stephen into the world of ships and sailing early on. Shortly after attending college, Decatur followed in his father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy at age 19 as a midshipman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Hope (Royal Navy officer)</span>

Sir Henry Hope KCB was an English officer of the Royal Navy whose distinguished service in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 earned him acclaim. As captain of HMS Endymion, he was involved in the action on 14 January 1815 which ended in the capture of the American warship USS President.

Rear-Admiral Richard Byron (1769–1837) was an officer in the British Royal Navy. He served in the American Revolutionary War where he saw action at the Battle of the Saintes, the French Revolutionary Wars where he fought at the Glorious First of June and the Battle of Groix, and the Napoleonic Wars where he served in North-American waters. Byron was in command of HMS Belvidera when she was attacked by a squadron of heavy frigates in one of the first actions of the 1812 Anglo-American War.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.