USS Ontario (1812)

Last updated
History
US flag 15 stars.svg
NameUSS Ontario
AcquiredPurchased, October 1812
Commissioned1813
FateSold, 15 May 1815
General characteristics
Type Schooner
Displacement81 long tons (82 t)
PropulsionSail
Armament2 × guns

USS Ontario was a lake schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.

Ontario was built as a merchant ship on Lake Ontario; purchased in October 1812; and placed in service in 1813, Sailing Master Joseph Stevens in command.

Part of Commodore Isaac Chauncey's tiny Lake Ontario squadron protecting upstate New York from a seaborne British and Canadian invasion, Ontario supported an attack on York, Canada, on 27 April 1813. General Zebulon Pike landed 1700 troops to raid the town while the U.S. squadron destroyed large quantities of stores and burned a schooner under construction. The warship then cooperated with troops attacking Fort George on 27 May, forcing a British evacuation of the Niagara Frontier. She then patrolled the Lake against British warship and merchantmen movements into the summer.

From 711 August, Ontario, still with Chauncey's 13-ship squadron, fought a running engagement with British Captain James Yeo's 6-ship group. Losing two ships on the 8th to heavy weather, the squadron had two more captured during the inconclusive exchange of fire on the 10th. A further sea fight on the 11th brought no more results but finally, a battle off York on 28 August succeeded in damaging two British ships and forced the enemy to flee into Burlington Bay.

For the next year and one-half, Ontario remained on Lake Ontario on patrol against any British invasion attempts. Laid up in ordinary following the end of the War of 1812, the converted commercial schooner was sold on 15 May 1815 and returned to merchant service.

Related Research Articles

The Battle of York was a War of 1812 battle fought in York, Upper Canada on April 27, 1813. An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lakeshore to the west and advanced against the town, which was defended by an outnumbered force of regulars, militia, and Ojibway natives under the overall command of Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.

The first USS Conquest was a schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.

USS Julia was a schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. Initially the privately-owned schooner Julia, she was captured at the onset of the war by armed boats looking for violators of President James Madison's embargo of trade with the British. Purchased by the United States Navy, the vessel was armed with two guns and made part of the squadron on Lake Ontario. Julia took part in the Battle of York and the Battle of Fort George. In August 1813, the schooner was captured by the Royal Navy after failing to execute a turn and was put in service as HMS Confiance. The vessel continued as a warship in British service for a couple of weeks before being converted to a troop transport. In October, Confiance was recaptured by the Americans and renamed Julia. No longer considered capable as a warship, the vessel was retired from service.

The first Asp was a schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.

Second Battle of Sackets Harbor

The Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor or simply the Battle of Sacket's Harbor, took place on 29 May 1813, during the War of 1812. A British force was transported across Lake Ontario and attempted to capture the town, which was the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on the lake. Twelve warships were built here. The British were repulsed by American regulars, militia, marines and sailors.

Battle of Fort George 1813 battle of the War of 1812

The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans defeated a British force and captured the Fort George in Upper Canada. The troops of the United States Army and vessels of the United States Navy cooperated in a very successful amphibious assault, although most of the opposing British force escaped encirclement.

USS Lady of the Lake was a small schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. She was built by Henry Eckford of Sacketts Harbor, New York, during the summer and winter of 1812-13, launched 6 April 1813 and entered service 13 days later, Sailing Master Flinn in command.

USS <i>General Pike</i> (1813) Corvette of the United States Navy

USS General Pike was a corvette in the United States Navy, which took part in Engagements on Lake Ontario during the Anglo-American War of 1812. She was launched in June 1813 and took part in several indecisive battles on the Great Lakes. She was laid up at the end of the war and was sold in 1825.

HMS <i>Royal George</i> (1809) 1809 sloop-of-war

HMS Royal George was a British 20-gun wooden sloop of the Provincial Marine, and subsequently, the Royal Navy, operating on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. The vessel took part in several Engagements on Lake Ontario and was the flagship of the Provincial Marine at the First Battle of Sackett's Harbor. In 1814, the vessel was renamed Niagara. Following the war, the sloop was converted to a transport and sold in 1837.

HMS <i>Duke of Gloucester</i> (1807)

HMS Duke of Gloucester was a 10-gun brig of the Royal Navy which was launched at the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard in Kingston, Ontario. A Provincial Marine vessel, during the War of 1812, the brig took part in several of the early engagements between British and American naval forces on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. While being repaired at York, Duke of Gloucester was captured by Americans in 1813. A month later the British destroyed the brig at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor.

USS <i>Scourge</i> (1812) American warship converted from a confiscated Canadian merchant schooner

USS Scourge was an American warship converted from a confiscated Canadian merchant schooner. She and the American warship Hamilton foundered at 2:00am on Sunday, August 8, 1813 during a squall on Lake Ontario. during the War of 1812.

Engagements on Lake Ontario Naval battles during the War of 1812

The Engagements on Lake Ontario encompass the prolonged naval contest for control of the lake during the War of 1812. Few actions were fought, none of which had decisive results. The contest essentially became a naval building race, sometimes referred to sarcastically as the "Battle of the Carpenters."

HMS Moira was a British 14-gun schooner of the Royal Navy, that plied the waters of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River during the War of 1812. Initially constructed for the Provincial Marine in 1805, the vessel took part in the Engagements on Lake Ontario. Renamed Charwell in 1814, following the war, the vessel became a powder hulk and an accommodation vessel. The vessel was sold in 1837.

HMS <i>Wolfe</i> (1813) 20-gun sloop-of-war

HMS Wolfe was a 20-gun sloop-of-war, launched at the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard at Kingston, Upper Canada, on 22 April 1813. She served in the British naval squadron in several engagements on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Upon her launch, Wolfe was made the flagship of the squadron until larger vessels became available. Along with the naval engagements on Lake Ontario, Wolfe supported land operations in the Niagara region and at the Battle of Fort Oswego. Following the war, the vessel was laid up in reserve and eventually sold in 1832.

HMS Lord Melville was a brig of the Royal Navy launched at Kingston, Ontario, on 20 July 1813. Initially designed as a schooner, she was altered to 14-gun brig in 1813. She served on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812, and was renamed HMS Star on 22 January 1814. By 1815, she was unfit for anything but transport duties. She was sold in 1837.

Provincial Marine North American inland coastal protection service 1796–1910

Provincial Marine was a coastal protection service in charge of the waters in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and parts of Lake Champlain under British control. While ships of the Provincial Marine were designated HMS, they were operated in more of a coast guard manner than as a full-fledged navy. Operations were maintained and staffed by the Royal Navy. Most ships of the Provincial Marine were built on the Great Lakes.

USS Lady Prevost was a schooner captured from the British during the War of 1812 and pressed into use in the United States Navy.

<i>Governor Simcoe</i> (1793 ship)

Governor Simcoe was a merchant schooner launched in 1793. The Provincial Marine acquired her in 1813 and renamed her after the British naval officer Sir Sidney Smith. She saw service on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. The Royal Navy acquired her in 1814 and renamed her HMS Magnet. A few months later her captain had to blow her up to prevent the Americans from capturing the vessel.

Prince Regent was a schooner constructed for Upper Canada's Provincial Marine for use on Lake Ontario. Built just before the beginning of the War of 1812, the vessel took part in the attack on Sackett's Harbor, New York. With the arrival of the Royal Navy in the Great Lakes under the command of Commodore James Lucas Yeo in 1813, the vessel was renamed HMS Lord Beresford or General Beresford, or Beresford. The British detachment on the lake engaged the American naval squadron and attacked American positions in the Niagara region, while supporting British armies.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .