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