American Fifth Rate frigate 'Essex' (1799)

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Essex

2408
Nominal Guns32DANFS
NationalityUnited States of America
OperatorUnited States Navy
Launched30.9.1799DANFS
Home Port DANFS
How acquiredPurpose builtDANFS
ShipyardSalem - Massachusetts DANFS
Designed by William HackettDANFS
Constructor Enos Briggs (1746-1819)BWAS-1793
CategoryFifth RateDANFS
Ship TypeFrigate DANFS
Sailing RigShip RiggedDANFS
Captured28.3.1814DANFS
BecomesBritish Fifth Rate frigate 'Essex' (1814) (36)

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck138' 7"Imperial Feet42.0671 
Length of Keel117' 2 ⅞"Imperial Feet35.6838 
Breadth37' 3 ½"Imperial Feet11.2903 
Depth in Hold11' 9"Imperial Feet3.5814 
Burthen867 22⁄94Tons BM 
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck140' 0"Imperial Feet42.672 
Breadth31' 0"Imperial Feet9.4488 
Depth in Hold12' 3"Imperial Feet3.6957 
Burthen850Tons BM 

Armament


1800Broadside Weight = 348 Imperial Pound ( 157.818 kg)DANFS
Upper Gun Deck26 American 12-Pounder
Spardeck16 American 24-Pound Carronade

1810Broadside Weight = 676 Imperial Pound ( 306.566 kg)DANFS
Upper Gun Deck24 American 32-Pound Columbiad
Upper Gun Deck2 American 12-Pounder
Spardeck16 American 32-Pound Columbiad
Spardeck4 American 12-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1800300 DANFS

6 Commanding Officers


DatesRankNameSource
7.1799 - 1800Captain Edward Preble (1761-1807)B1711801Captain Edward Preble (1761-1807)B1712.5.1801 - 1802Captain William Bainbridge (1774-1833)DANFS1.12.1803 - 1807Captain James Barron (1768-1851)DB00929.10.1810 - 9.1811Captain John Smith (d.1815)1811 - 28.3.1814Captain David Porter (1780-1843)DANFS

14 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
8.11.1799 - 1799First Lieutenant Richard C BealeDB00928.11.1799 - 1801Second Lieutenant David PhippsDB0092.12.1799 - 1799Lieutenant George Gardiner LeeDB0091.1800 - 1.4.1800Acting Lieutenant George Washington Tew (d.1801)OUSNMC1.4.1800 - 4.1801Lieutenant George Washington Tew (d.1801)DB0091811 - 1812Lieutenant Lewis Warrington (1782-1851)W0531812 - 28.3.1814First Lieutenant John Downes (d.1854)W0551812 - 28.3.1814Lieutenant James P Wilmer (d.1814)†W0551812 - 4.1.1813Acting Lieutenant William Bolton Finch (d.1849)W0551812 - 24.7.1813Acting Lieutenant Stephen D McKnightW05519.5.1812 - 28.3.1814Lieutenant James WilsonW0554.1.1813 - 28.3.1814Lieutenant William Bolton Finch (d.1849)W05524.7.1813 - 28.3.1814Lieutenant Stephen D McKnightW0551814 - 28.3.1814Lieutenant John G Powell (d.1814)†

15 Warrant Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
2.3.1799 - 10.6.1801Surgeon Hector OrrDB00913.11.1799 - 10.9.1801Purser William MumfordDB0092.12.1799 - 1799Boatswain Joseph MartinDB0092.12.1799 - 22.1.1803Gunner Samuel MasuryDB0096.12.1799 - 1799Master Rufus LowDB00928.4.1801 - 4.6.1803Master Richard ButlerDB0091802 - 20.11.1802Acting Gunner John Brewinref:114710.5.1811 - 28.3.1814Chaplain David P Adams (d.1823)W0551812 - 28.3.1814Carpenter John S WatersW0551812 - 28.3.1814Sailmaker David NavarroW0551812 - 28.3.1814Master John G CowellW0551812 - 28.3.1814Purser John R ShawW0551812 - 28.3.1814Boatswain Edward LinscottW0551812 - 28.3.1814Gunner Lawrence MillerW05522.5.1812 - 28.3.1814Surgeon Robert MillerW055

72 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
23.9.1799 - 22.6.1801Midshipman Thomas RandallDB00912.1799 - 1799Gunner's Yeoman John SmithDB00912.1799 - 1799Boatswain's Mate John HowardDB00912.1799 - 1799Armourer Joseph NewellDB00912.1799 - 1799Coxswain Eli DillDB00912.1799 - 1799Master-at-Arms James WallaceDB00912.1799 - 1799Cooper John DouglassDB00912.1799 - 1799Cook Andrew KnowlandDB00912.1799 - 1799Captain's Clerk Samuel Curren WardDB00912.1799 - 1799Carpenter's Mate Samuel HazletonDB00912.1799 - 1799Master's Mate Francis BensonDB00912.1799 - 1799Carpenter's Mate Stephen StimsonDB00912.1799 - 1799Master's Mate William B ReedDB00912.1799 - 1799Gunner's Mate William PattersonDB00912.1799 - 1799Surgeon's Mate John Hancock PerkinsDB00912.1799 - 1799Boatswain's Mate William FisherDB00912.1799 - 4.7.1800Steward Simeon F Stewart (d.1800)†DB00912.1799 - 1799Sailmaker George PerkinsDB00912.1799 - 1.1800Sailmaker Samuel York NowelDB0092.12.1799 - 1799Midshipman John RoweDB0092.12.1799 - 1799Midshipman John ShattuckDB0092.12.1799 - 1799Midshipman William ScallonDB0092.12.1799 - 1.1800Midshipman Fitch TarbellDB0092.12.1799 - 9.2.1801Midshipman Samuel StubbsDB0092.12.1799 - 25.2.1801Midshipman Royal GurleyDB0092.12.1799 - 6.8.1801Midshipman Samuel ConantDB00911.12.1799 - 30.4.1801Midshipman Samuel AllenDB00911.12.1799 - 20.5.1801Midshipman James Henry AdamsDB0091800Midshipman John BrownDB00925.3.1800 - 1800Master's Mate Richard ButlerDB00925.3.1800 - 1800Master's Mate Richard ButterDB0091.1801 - 30.5.1800Midshipman William H Williams (d.1800)†DB0091.1801 - 26.5.1801Midshipman J B HitchbornDB00928.4.1801 - 1801Midshipman George Merrill (d.1822)DB00928.4.1801 - 1801Midshipman Simon Smith (d.1806)DB00928.4.1801 - 1801Midshipman Benjamin B Smith (d.1807)DB00928.4.1801 - 3.3.1803Midshipman Abner WoodruffDB0099.8.1811 - 28.3.1814Midshipman David G Farragut (d.1870)DB0099.8.1811 - 28.3.1814Midshipman David TittermaryDB0091812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman Charles T ClarkW0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman William OdenheimerW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quartermaster John Thompson (d.1814)†W0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman Henry W Ogden (d.1860)W0551812 - 28.3.1814Quartermaster Robert DunnW0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman Henry GrayW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quartermaster John MallettW0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman George W IsaacW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quartermaster William GardnerW0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman William W Feltus (d.1814)W0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman William H HaddiwayW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quartermaster Francis Bland (d.1814)†W0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman Thomas Anderson Conover (d.1864)W0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman Richard DashiellW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quartermaster James RynardW0551812 - 28.3.1814Midshipman John CowanW0551812 - 28.3.1814Surgeon's Mate Alexander M Montgomery (d.1828)W0551812 - 28.3.1814Boatswain's Mate William KingsburyW0551812 - 28.3.1814Steward Thomas ColemanW0551812 - 28.3.1814Captain's Clerk W W BostwickW0551812 - 28.3.1814Boatswain's Mate Joseph HawleyW0551812 - 28.3.1814Coxswain John FrancisW0551812 - 28.3.1814Boatswain's Mate Thomas BelcherW0551812 - 28.3.1814Cooper John AdamsW0551812 - 28.3.1814Master's Mate James TerryW0551812 - 28.3.1814Master-at-Arms George KensingerW0551812 - 28.3.1814Mate William P PiercyW0551812 - 28.3.1814Armourer Field BennetW0551812 - 28.3.1814Carpenter's Mate John LangleyW0551812 - 28.3.1814Gunner's Mate James SpaffordW0551812 - 28.3.1814Surgeon's Mate Richard K HoffmanW0551812 - 28.3.1814Gunner's Mate George Martin (d.1814)†W0551812 - 28.3.1814Cook John HadenW055

20 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
12.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner William TraffordDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner John RobinsonDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner John LessellDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner James ConverseDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner James OrrDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner Hans OlsenDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner Jacob BensonDB00912.1799 - 1799Quarter Gunner John WestDB00917.12.1799 - 31.12.1799Able Seaman John WilliamsonDB0091812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner James MarshallW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner Leonard GreenW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner James SteadyW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner Adam Roach (d.1814)†W0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner Benjamin GeersW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner Isaac ValanceW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner Henry StoneW0551812 - 28.3.1814Quarter Gunner Edward SellmanW0551812 - 28.3.1814Boatswain's Yeoman Thomas BaileyW0551812 - 28.3.1814Carpenter's Yeoman Benjamin WaddenW0551812 - 28.3.1814Gunner's Yeoman Thomas EdwardsW055

12 Marines


DatesRankNameSource
12.1799 - 1.1800Marine First Lieutenant S W GeddisDB0091800 - 1.1800Corporal Joel RussellDB0091800 - 1.1800Corporal Stephen DickensonDB0091800 - 1.1800Corporal John AlversonDB0091800 - 1.1800Sergeant Winthrop BraburyDB0091800 - 1.1800Sergeant Elisha ChapinDB0093.5.1802 - 20.8.1802Marine Corporal William Bryant (c.1779-?)ref:11441812 - 28.3.1814Corporal Andrew MahonW0551812 - 28.3.1814Corporal Absalom KrewsonW0551812 - 28.3.1814Sergeant Pierce G SmallW0551812 - 28.3.1814Sergeant Abraham van DeezerW0551812 - 28.3.1814Marine Lieutenant John M Gamble (d.1836)W055

Service History


DateEventSource
6.1.1800Left New York in company with Congress
28.3.1800Doubled the Cape of Good Hope, the first US vessel to do soDB009
27.8.1800Passed the Cape of Good HopeDB009
10.9.1800Arrived at St HelenaDB009
29.11.1800Arrived at New YorkDB009
1.7.1801Arrived at Gibraltar
17.6.1802Sailed from the Mediterranean for homeDB009
22.7.1802Arrived in New YorkDB009
8.1802Arrived at the Washington Navy Yard for repairsDB009
1.4.1803Placed in ordinaryDB009
8.1804Returned to the Mediterranean
27.4.1805Present in the attack on the town of Derne, losing 14 killedDB009
7.1806Returned to Washington and placed in Ordinary
1.5.1807Placed in ordinaryDB009
2.1809Recommissioned
3.12.1811At NewportDB009
3.7.1812Sailed from New YorkDB009
11.7.1812Took British Transport #299 with 197 soldiers on board from a convoy of seven escorted by Minerva (32)
13.7.1812Took the Lamprey brig from a merchant fleet convoyed by the Nimrod (16)
26.7.1812Took the Leander brig with a crew of 5DB009
2.8.1812Took the brig Hero with a crew of 8 and the ship Nancy with a crew of 11DB009
3.8.1812Took the brig Brothers with a crew of 10 and used it as a cartel for prisonersDB009
8.8.1812Took the brig King George with a crew of 10 loaded with coal and saltDB009
9.8.1812Took the brig Mary with a crew of 9DB009
13.8.1812Took the Sloop Alert (16) off Newfoundland
9.1812Returned to New York
27.10.1812Left for a cruise to the south
12.12.1812Took the British Packet Norton (10) with 31 men on boardDB009
29.12.1812Took the schooner ElizabethDB009
14.3.1813Arrived at Valparaiso, Chile
20.3.1813Took the Privateer Nereyda (16)
29.4.1813Took the British Whaling ships Barclay, Montezuma, Georgiana and PolicyDB009
29.4.1813Took the Packet Georgiana E-WIKI
28.5.1813Took the British Whaling ship Atlantic and converted her to a cruiser as Essex Junior (20)DB009
28.5.1813Took the British Whaling ships Greenwich, Catherine, Rose and Hector off the Gallapagos islands. Actually taken by the Whaler Georgina acting as an armed cruiser.DB009
28.5.1813Took the British Whaling ship Charlton (10)DB009
13.7.1813Took the British Whaling ships Charlton (10), Seringapatam and New ZealanderDB009
13.9.1813Took the British Whaling ship Sir Andrew HammondDB009
1.1814Blockaded in Valparaiso Harbour by RN Frigates Phoebe (36) and Cherub (18)
28.3.1814Taken by Cherub (18) at Valparaiso
28.3.1814Taken by Phoebe (36) at Valparaiso


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
1801-1802American Mediterranean Squadron 1801-1802 Richard Dale (1756-1826) 
1804-1805American Mediterranean Squadron 1804-1805 Samuel Barron (d.1810) 
1805-1806American Mediterranean Squadron 1805-1806 John Rodgers (d.1838) 
 
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