Back to Lawrence Rousseau-- Part 2: The USS Erie and USS Ontario

From the Baltimore Heritage Site.

On March 3, 1813, Congress authorized the construction of six sloops-of-war to the design of naval architect William Doughty.  In Baltimore, Thomas Kemp took the design on began work on the USS Ontario and USS Erie at his Fells Point shipyard.

The Erie was launched on November 3, 1813 and the Ontario on Nov. 28.

Master Commandant Robert T. Spence of the Ontario spent the winter months of 1814 recruiting a crew, but the delay caused him to become stuck in Baltimore because of the British blockade.  It stayed there until the end of the war.

--Brock-Perry