Captain James Sever-- Part 4: The Madeira Mystery and the Launch of the USS Constitution

From the USS Constitution Museum "Madeira Mystery."

The magnificent U.S. warship's launch was not so impressive the first two times it was attempted.  The launch was a no-go.    The third time proved to be the charm.

Anxious shipwrights and boisterous onlookers gathered at Edmund Hartt's shipyard  that October day to see the ship enter its"destined element."

But, one mystery from that day continues.  According to most 20th century accounts, a man by the name of James Sever had the honor of christening the Constitution before she slid down the launching ways  into Boston Harbor.

Ira Hollis' 1900 book "The Frigate Constitution The Central Figure of the U.S. Navy Under Sail" wrote:  "The successful launch  finally occurred on October 2121. Captain James Sever, whose ship was on the stocks at Portsmouth (the USS Congress) awaiting congressional action, went down to break a bottle of wine over her bow."

That's Our James Sever.  --Brock-Perry