USS Constitution

The USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest ship still afloat. Launched in 1797, she was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March 1795.

Design and Construction

The USS Constitution was designed by naval architect Joshua Humphreys as a heavily armed frigate capable of defeating any other frigate while outrunning larger ships of the line. Her design included a length of 204 feet, a beam of 43.5 feet, and a displacement of 2,200 tons. The ship's hull was constructed from a combination of white oak, live oak, and pine, with copper fastenings provided by Paul Revere.

Construction began in 1794 at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The ship was launched on October 21, 1797, and commissioned on July 22, 1798, with Captain Samuel Nicholson in command.

Early Service

The USS Constitution's early service included patrols and convoy duties during the Quasi-War with France. She captured several French vessels and protected American merchant shipping from French privateers.

War of 1812

The USS Constitution gained fame during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom. Under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, she defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812. This victory earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides" as cannonballs seemed to bounce off her thick wooden hull.

She continued to serve with distinction, capturing the HMS Java on December 29, 1812, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge. These victories boosted American morale and established the USS Constitution as a symbol of American naval prowess.

Later Service and Preservation

After the War of 1812, the USS Constitution served as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons. She was retired from active service in 1855 and served as a training ship during the American Civil War.

In the 20th century, the ship underwent several restorations to preserve her as a museum ship. She is berthed at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, where she remains a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of American naval heritage.

Also see

• Naval Act of 1794
• Joshua Humphreys
• War of 1812
• Charlestown Navy Yard
• American Civil War