The Quasi War's USS Merrimack-- Part 1: Presented to U.S. Navy

From Wikipedia.

While writing about the USS Chesapeake whose name was changed to USS Patapsco in 1799, this ship, along with the USS Merrimack, fought off a French attack on Curacao in 1800.  I, of course, knew about the USS Merrimack that later was turned into the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in 1862, but knew nothing about this ship.

The USS Merrimack was launched by the Association of Newburyport Shipwrights 12 October 1798, and presented to the U.S. Navy where it saw action in the Quasi War with France.

It was 460 tons, has a crew of 220 and mounted 28 guns (twenty 9-pdrs. and eight 6-pdr. guns).

--Brock-Perry