American Fifth Rate frigate 'President' (1800)

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President

2420
Nominal Guns44DANFS
NationalityUnited States of America
OperatorUnited States Navy
Ordered27.3.1794B90
Launched10.4.1800B90
First Commissioned7.1800ref:740
How acquiredPurpose builtB90
ShipyardNew York Naval Shipyard - New York DANFS
Ship ClassUnited States ClassDANFS
Designed byJoshua Humphreys (1751-1838)B90
ConstructorChristian Bergh (1763-1843)DANFS
CategoryFifth RateDANFS
Ship TypeFrigate DANFS
Sailing RigShip RiggedDANFS
Captured15.1.1815DANFS
BecomesBritish Fourth Rate frigate 'President' (1815) (50)

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck175' 0"Imperial Feet53.34 
Length of Keel157' 10"Imperial Feet47.8536 
Breadth44' 4"Imperial Feet13.4366 
Depth in Hold13' 11"Imperial Feet3.9709 
Burthen1,576Tons BM 

Armament


1800Broadside Weight = 855 Imperial Pound ( 387.7425 kg)DANFS
Upper Gun Deck32 American 24 Pounder
Spardeck22 American 42-Pounder Carronade
Spardeck1 American 18 Pounder

15.1.1815Broadside Weight = 816 Imperial Pound ( 370.056 kg)B044
Upper Gun Deck32 American 24 Pounder
Spardeck20 American 42-Pounder Carronade
Spardeck1 American 24-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1812450 B044

6 Commanding Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1800 - 1802CaptainThomas Truxtun (1755-1822)DANFS1802 - 1806CaptainJames Barron (1768-1851)12.1808 - 1811CaptainWilliam Bainbridge (1774-1833)DANFS1811 - 1813CaptainJohn Rodgers (d.1838)24.12.1811 - 1813Master CommandantCharles Ludlow1814 - 15.1.1815CaptainStephen Decatur (1779-1820)DANFS

1 Flag Officer


DatesRankNameSource
1801 - 1802CommodoreRichard Dale (1756-1826)DANFS

4 Warrant Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
1801Surgeon's MateSterling Archerref:12031802 - 20.11.1802Acting CarpenterJames Fryref:11471802 - 20.11.1802Acting GunnerJohn H Swooperef:11471802 - 20.11.1802MasterWilliam Knightref:1147

6 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
10.1810 - 11.1813MidshipmanMatthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858)17.12.1810 - 23.8.1812MidshipmanJohn H Bird (d.1812)†1812 - 1814MidshipmanEdward Rutledge Shubrick (1793-1844)W06515.6.1812 - 1812MidshipmanJoel Abbot (d.1855)W06423.8.1812 - 1812MidshipmanJohn Taylor (d.1812)15.1.1815 - 1815MidshipmanIrvine Shubrick (1797-1849)

7 Marines


DatesRankNameSource
6.1800 - 7.5.1802Marine PrivateJohn Francisco (c.1779-?)ref:114424.6.1800 - 23.3.1801Marine CorporalWilliam Dailey (c.1779-1804)ref:114424.3.1801 - 3.6.1801Marine PrivateWilliam Dailey (c.1779-1804)ref:11441.6.1801 - 7.5.1802Marine PrivateWilliam Christie (c.1776-?)ref:11444.6.1801 - 15.4.1802Marine PrivateWilliam Dailey (c.1779-1804)ref:114416.4.1802 - 7.5.1802Marine PrivateWilliam Dailey (c.1779-1804)ref:114423.8.1812 - 1812Marine LieutenantJohn Heath

Service History


DateEventSource
5.8.1800Maiden cruise
1801Flagship of the Mediterranean squadron until 1802
1804Service in the Mediterranean until 1805, including action against Tripoli
1809Cruises off the eastern coast of the United States
12.5.1811Met and fired on the British sloop Little Belt (20) (20) off Cape Henry. Little Belt suffered damage and casualties but returned to port
16.5.1811President vs Little Belt
21.6.1812Left New York in company with the United States (44) , Congress (38) , Hornet (16) and Argus (16)
23.6.1812Belvidera vs President
10.10.1812Chased the Nymphe (38)
21.10.1812Contacted Galatea (36) convoying two vessels, Congress (38) took one, the Argo
31.12.1812Returned to Boston
30.4.1813Cruise off the Cape Verde Islands and the Brazilian coast with Congress (38)
2.5.1813Unsuccessful chase of the British sloop Curlew (16) (18)
8.5.1813Parted company with Congress (38)
19.7.1813Chased by two British sail for four days. These were the Alexandria (32) and Spitfire (8)
24.9.1813Took the Schooner Highflyer (8)
27.9.1813Put into Newport, Rhode Island
4.12.1813Sailed for a cruise to the West Indies
25.12.1813Escaped from two French Frigates La Nymphe (44) (40) and Meduse (40)
18.2.1814Returned to New York and was then blockaded by the British
14.1.1815Sailed from New York, ran onto a sandbar after midnight on the 15th and got off later in a damaged state
15.1.1815Capture of the President
15.1.1815Taken by Endymion (44)
15.1.1815Taken by Pomone (38)
15.1.1815Taken by Tenedos (38)
15.1.1815Taken by Majestic (74)


Fleets

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

Notes on Ship


Explosion
During the chase of the Belvidera the main deck bow chaser exploded, killing and wounding 16 men, amongst the wounded was Commodore John Rodgers.

Sources


IDDescriptionAuthorType
DANFSDictionary of American Naval Fighting ShipsUnknownWeb Site
B90The U.S. Sailing Navy, 1775-1853Paul H SilverstoneBook
ref:740The Sailing Navy, 1775-1854Paul H. SilverstoneBook
B044The Naval War of 1812 - Vol 1Theodore RooseveltBook
ref:1203Naval documents related to the quasi-war between the United States and France Vol. 7Dudley W KnoxBook
ref:1147Naval documents related to the United States wars with the Barbary powers (6 vols) Book
W065Shubrick Family TreeRob SalzmanWeb Site
W064USS Abbot - DD629 Web Site
ref:1144Records of officers and men of New Jersey in wars 1791-1815 Book
 
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