| Washington, named for our first President, was one of "four
ships to rate not less than 74 guns" authorized by Act of Congress 2 January
1813. She was the same dimensions and armament as reported for
Independence. Her keel was laid in the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New
Hampshire, May 1813 under a contract with the shipbuilders, Hartt and Badger.
She was the second U.S. Navy ship-of-the-line to launch, going down the ways
1 October 1814. Capt. Isaac Hull supervised her building and Capt Thomas
MacDonough completed her fitting out. She commissioned 26 August 1815, Capt.
John Orde Creighton, commanding. |
| Washington departed Portsmouth 3 December 1815 for Long
Island and Boston, then came off Annapolis 15 May 1816. Over the ensuing
days, the man-of-war welcomed a number of distinguished visitors who came
on board to inspect what was, in those days, one of teh more powerful ships
afloat. The guests included Commodore John Rodgers and Capt. David Porter;
Co. Franklin Wharton, the Commandant of teh Marine Corps and her deck log
of 21 May records: "At half past Meridian His Excellency James Madison, the
President of the United States and Lady, accompanied by the Secretary and
Commissioners of the Navy, came on board to visit the ship, on which occasion
the yards were manned, and they were saluted with 19 guns and three
cheers." |
| Washington then sailed down Chesapeake Bay and anchored
near the mouth of the Potomac River 5 June to embark the Honorable William
Pickney. She sailed the 8th as flagship of Commodore Isaac Chauncey, commanding
the Mediterranean Squadron. After calling at Gibraltar she reached Naples
14 July 1816. William Pickney debarked 25 July on his special mission of
adjusting claims of American merchants against Naples. The talks ensued well
into August. At the endo of the month, the demands of diplomacy apparently
statisfied, Washington sailed with the squadron from Naples Bay 30
August 1816. |
| Washington remained in the Mediterranean for nearly 2 years,
leading her squadron in a show of strength that encouraged Barbary States
to respect the rights of American ocean commerce. Dignitaries that visited
the American man-of-war during this Mediterranean cruise included General
Nugent, the commander in chief of Austrian forces (on 5 August 1817) after
returning to the Bay of Naples 12 August 1817 she was visited by Prince Henry
of Prussia. |
| Commodore Charles Stewart in Franklin relieved Commodore
Chauncey 1 February 1818 at Syracuse Harbor. The warship called at Messina
and again cruised the Barbary coast before departing Gibraltar 23 May with
about 40 merchant ships bound to the United States. Washington reached
New York 6 July 1818 and was visited by Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins
on the 8th. The following day, her deck log records: "At 8 a.m., hoisted
the colors half mast in token of respect to the remains of General Montgomery
who fell at Quebec in 1775 during the Revolutionary War which were this day
to be interred in the city. At 10, while the procession was moving, commenced
firing minute guns." |
| Washington did little cruising thereafter, remaining at
New York as Commodore Isaac Chauncey's flagship until placed in ordinary
in 1820. She remained inactive until broken up in 1843. |
Tonnage, 750; Length, 190'10"; Beam, 54'7 1/2"; Depth of hold,
19'9"; Draft, 24'4"; Complement, 750; Armament, 74 guns |
|
Bibliography
 |
James L. Mooney, Dictionary of American Naval
Fighting Ships, (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office,
1969), Vol.4: L-M, p. 578-580 |
|
James L. Mooney, Dictionary of American Naval
Fighting Ships, (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office,
1981), Vol.8: W-Z, p. 123-124 |
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