George Washington picked the name for the ship to reflect a principle of the U.S. Constitution.
In 1811, the President was involved in the Little Belt Affair when the ship mistook the HMS Little Belt for the HMS Guerriere, which had been impressing American seamen. There was an exchange of gunfire for several minutes, but no serious damage. Blame for the incident was not placed, but it helped add to tensions between the United States and Britain.
The ship served in the Quasi War with France and First and Second Barbary wars.
During the War of 1812, the USS President made several extended cruises as far away as the English Channel and Norway. It captured the armed schooner HMS Highflyer and numerous merchant ships.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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