American Fifth Rate frigate 'President' (1800)

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President	2420
Nominal Guns	44	DANFS
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	United States Navy
Ordered	27.3.1794	B90
Launched	10.4.1800	B90
First Commissioned	7.1800	ref:740
How acquired	Purpose built	B90
Shipyard	New York Naval Shipyard - New York	DANFS
Ship Class	United States Class	DANFS
Designed by	Joshua Humphreys (1751-1838)	B90
Constructor	Christian Bergh (1763-1843)	DANFS
Category	Fifth Rate	DANFS
Ship Type	Frigate	DANFS
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	DANFS
Captured	15.1.1815	DANFS
Becomes	British 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
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
1801-1802	American Mediterranean Squadron 1801-1802	Richard Dale (1756-1826)
1804-1805	American Mediterranean Squadron 1804-1805	Samuel Barron (d.1810)
1805-1806	American Mediterranean Squadron 1805-1806	John 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.

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