The USS Boston Also Burned At Washington Navy Yard

From Wikipedia.

The USS Boston was a 32-gun, wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate built by public subscription in Boston which took part in the Quasi War with France and the First Barbary War.  It was launched in 1700 and commissioned the same year.

The Boston protected American commerce ships from French privateers in the Quasi War, capturing eight prizes (two with the USS General Greene).  In the Barbary War the ship  battled Barbary ships.

Laid up in 1802 at Washington Navy Yard, it was deemed in such bad shape that it was not worth repairing.  She was burned August 24, 1814, to prevent capture by the British.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy "Subscription" Ships-- Part 5: Richmond and Trumbull

USS RICHMOND-- 16-gun brig purchased by the citizens of Richmond, Petersburg, Manchester and Norfolk, Virginia, for use in the Quasi War with France. Cruised in the Lesser Antilles and off the U.S. coast. Captured the French privateer Louie. Sold in 1801.

USS TRUMBULL-- 18-gun sloop commissioned in 1800. Built because of losses of merchant ships in the Quasi War. Under the command of David Jewett. Sold in 1801.

---Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy "Subscription" Ships-- Part 3: USS John Adams

Yet another "Subscription" ship that saw service in the War of 1812 (and even the Mexican and Civil War), was the 30-gun frigate USS John Adams, built by the people of Charleston, South Carolina, and commissioned in 1799. Before the War of 1812, it served in the Quasi War and First Barbary War.

It was converted to a corvette or sloop of war before the War of 1812. At the outbreak of the war, the ship was in Boston undergoing repairs and moved to New York for completion which didn't happen until 1814.

It carried U.S. peace commissioners Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell to Europe under a flag of truce where it arrived in Norway. Returning, it carried dispatches concerning the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war.

After the War of 1812, the John Adams participated in the Second Barbary War, Mexican War and even the Civil War. (I'll write about its service in the last war in my Civil War Navy Blog.)

 Wikipedia says not to get the USS John Adams confused with the USS Adams.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy "Subscription" Ships-- Part 2: USS Essex

USS ESSEX:

Of the these "subscription" ships, the one with the most noteworthy War of 1812 accomplishments, even though it was captured. The ship was a 36/32-gun frigate that fought in the Quasi War, First Barbary War and War of 1812.

Built for $139,362 subscribed by the people of Salem and Essex County, Massachusetts. Presented to the U.S. Navy and commissioned in 1799. Its first commander was Edward Preble.

In 1812, it was commanded by Captain David Porter, father of Civil War Admiral David Dixon Porter and Commodore William D. Porter. On board, he had a ten-year-old midshipman, his foster son by the name of David Glasgow Farragut.

It was captured by the British on 28 March 1814 and it became the HMS Essex.

Definitely some famous naval names connected to this ship, including its first commander.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy "Subscription" Ships-- Part 1: Most Had Short Careers

These were ships that evidently added to the U.S. Navy through subscriptions by the states and in some instances, cities, even private interests. Evidently the Act of June 30, 1798 allowed this. Most were only in service for a few years and mostly built because of the so-called Quasi War with France (our former ally during the American Revolution).

USS MARYLAND, 26-gun sloop built by public subscription in Baltimore. Commissioned in 1799 and sold in 1801.

USS MERRIMACK, 28 GUNS, Launched by the Association of Newburyport Shipwrights and presented to the Navy in 1798. Saw service during the Quasi War and sold in 1801.

USS BOSTON, Third ship with the name. A 32-gun frigate built by public subscription in Boston. Commissioned 1799. Fought in the Quasi War and First Barbary War. Burned at Washington Navy Yard 24 August 1814 during the War of 1812 to prevent capture by British (as was the USS New York).

Never Heard of These Ships. --Brock-Perry

Act of June 30, 1798

From Wikipedia

I keep coming across this act as well as American warships built by the states and cities and turned over to the U.S. Navy. I'd never heard of it and always thought U.S. Navy ships were funded by the government, so had to do some research on it.

I couldn't find much on the Act, except that it provided for ships to be built by the states and supplied to the Navy to supplement the original six frigates (including the USS Constitution) which were authorized by the Naval Act of 1794.

Most of the ships were used for just a short time from 1799 to 1801 and saw service during the so-called Quasi War with former Revolutionary War ally France. Some were still around during the War of 1812.

I'll be listing these "subscription" ships next week.

--Brock-Perry