Simone Lawson
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Constructed in Boston in 1797, it was one of the US Navy's first men-of-war. The ship's unique construction made it a formidable and powerful vessel, with a hull made of dense American oak. Its ability to withstand cannonballs was demonstrated during a battle with the HMS Guerriere in 1812, when a sailor exclaimed, Huzza, her sides are made of iron!. This led to the ship being nicknamed Old Ironsides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Launch | 1797 |
| Date of Commissioning | 1794 |
| Captain | Isaac Hull |
| Construction Material | Oak |
| Type of Ship | Frigate |
| Nickname | Old Ironsides |
| Current Berth | Boston |
| Current Status | Open for Tours |
| Current Crew | 75 enlisted sailors and 3 commissioned officers |
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What You'll Learn
The USS Constitution's unique construction
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington for the frigates that were to be constructed.
Joshua Humphreys designed the Constitution and its sister ships to be larger, faster, and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, under the supervision of Captain Samuel Nicholson, master shipwright Colonel George Claghorn, and Foreman Prince Athearn. The ship's keel was laid on November 1, 1794, and its hull was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick. Its length between perpendiculars was 175 ft (53 m), with a 204 ft (62 m) length overall and a width of 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m). In total, 60 acres (24 ha) of trees were needed for its construction, primarily pine and oak.
The Constitution's unique construction, with its thick hull and heavy armament, contributed to its success in naval battles. During the War of 1812, the Constitution captured the British ship Guerriere, and its exploits made her the stuff of legend. In the battle, 18-pound iron cannonballs from the Guerriere bounced off the Constitution's hull, leading a sailor on the British ship to exclaim, "Huzza, her sides are made of iron!". This event cemented the nickname "Old Ironsides" for the ship.
The Constitution underwent repairs and restoration work over the years to maintain its 1812 configuration. In the 1970s, Commander Tyrone G. Martin ensured that all construction work aimed to preserve this configuration. The ship typically makes a turnaround cruise each year, where it performs underway demonstrations in Boston Harbor and returns to its dock. The Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston is responsible for the ship's maintenance and repair, using original material from its initial construction whenever possible.
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The War of 1812
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and was constructed in Boston, Massachusetts. Its first duties included providing protection for American merchant shipping.
During the battle with HMS Guerriere, the Constitution demonstrated its superior design and construction. The British cannonballs bounced harmlessly off its hull, leading to the exclamation, "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!" This gave rise to the nickname "Old Ironsides". The Constitution's hull was made of dense American oak, sheathed in copper forged by Paul Revere. The ship's design, by Joshua Humphreys, was intended to create a capital ship for the young Navy, resulting in a larger and more heavily armed frigate.
The victory over HMS Guerriere was an important statement of American naval power. The Constitution went on to defeat or capture seven more British ships during the War of 1812, including running the British blockade of Boston twice. The ship's success against the supposedly invincible Royal Navy provided a tough boost in morale for the young American republic. The Constitution became an American icon, with its exploits making it the stuff of legend.
After the war, Old Ironsides served as the flagship of the navy's Mediterranean squadron. In 1828, the ship was laid up in Boston, and by 1905, it was considered for target practice. However, a public campaign to preserve the famous warship was initiated, and Old Ironsides underwent restoration. Today, the USS Constitution remains in commission as a U.S. Navy warship, open for tours in Boston. It stands as a national monument and a tangible link to the early years of the United States and its Navy.
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The battle against HMS Guerriere
The USS Constitution, under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, sailed from Boston on 2 August 1812, towards the waters southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Constitution had a formidable record, having never been defeated in battle since its launch in 1797.
On 19 August 1812, a lookout aboard the USS Constitution spotted a sail on the cloudy southern horizon. It was the HMS Guerriere, a French ship captured by the British in 1806. The Guerriere had been notorious for stopping American merchant vessels at sea and impressing their sailors, and this practice had partly led to the declaration of war against Great Britain two months earlier.
The two ships closed in on each other, and around 5 or 6 pm, they drew alongside about 25 yards apart. The Constitution fired a full broadside, rocking the Guerriere. The British ship responded with cannonballs, but they bounced off the Constitution's hull. This was due to the Constitution's hull being made of white oak and live oak sheathed in copper, making it denser than British oak. The Guerriere's 18-pound iron cannonballs were thus ineffective, and a British sailor exclaimed, "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!".
The mizzenmast of the Guerriere fell over, impairing its ability to manoeuvre. The battle lasted 15 minutes, and the Guerriere was severely damaged and forced to surrender. The Americans tended to the wounded and dead through the night, ferrying the British prisoners of war and their possessions across to the Constitution.
The next morning, it was clear the Guerriere could not be saved, and Captain Hull made the decision to scuttle the ship by igniting the warship's powder. The Constitution returned to Boston with the prisoners, arriving on 30 August. The victory was an important boost to American morale and patriotism, and the Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides".
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The ship's ability to withstand cannonballs
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and is one of six original frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Constitution earned its nickname, Old Ironsides, during a battle against the HMS Guerriere in 1812. The Constitution's ability to withstand cannonballs was impressive, with many of Guerriere's shots rebounding harmlessly off its hull. This was due to the ship's unique construction: it had a thicker hull made of heavy oak timber with a density of 75 pounds per cubic foot, making it heavier than water and most other common timbers. The ship's internal braces were also cut in solid pieces from individual trees, making them stronger than composite braces.
During the battle, the Constitution and Guerriere drew alongside each other, about 25 to 50 feet apart. The Constitution fired a full broadside, rocking the Guerriere. To the amazement of the British crew, their 18-pound iron cannonballs bounced off the Constitution's hull, which was made of white oak and live oak sheathed in copper. One British sailor exclaimed, "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!"
The Constitution's victory over the Guerriere was a watershed moment in naval history, marking the rise of the United States as a global naval power. The Constitution returned to Boston to a hero's welcome, with crowds cheering for Captain Hull and his crew. The ship's ability to withstand cannonballs and emerge victorious against the Guerriere cemented its place in history and gave the United States a much-needed win.
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The poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
The USS Constitution, an eighteenth-century ship, was on the verge of being decommissioned. It was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812, after battling the HMS Guerriere. The ship's hull was made of strong live oak wood, which caused the 18-pound British cannonballs to bounce right off. This led a sailor on the Guerriere to exclaim, "Huzza, her sides are made of iron!" ».
In September 1830, Oliver Wendell Holmes, a 21-year-old law student, read about the Navy's plans to dismantle the USS Constitution and was moved to write the poem "Old Ironsides" to oppose its scrapping. The poem was published in the Boston Daily Advertiser and soon gained national attention, becoming one of Holmes' most well-known pieces.
The poem "Old Ironsides" is a tribute to the USS Constitution and speaks on its glory. It consists of three stanzas, each with eight lines or octaves, and follows its own rhyme scheme, creating a varied and interesting tone.
In the first stanza, Holmes appears to advocate for the ship's decommissioning, glorifying its past while suggesting it is time for its retirement:
> "Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
> Long has it waved on high,
> And many an eye has danced to see
> That banner in the sky;
> Beneath it rung the battle shout,
> And burst the cannon’s roar;
> —The meteor of the ocean air
> Shall sweep the clouds no more."
However, the speaker's words have a double meaning, and the poem ultimately advocates for the ship's preservation. The second stanza ends with the famous lines:
> "The harpies of the shore shall pluck
> The eagle of the sea!"
The poem generated enough public sentiment that the historic ship was preserved, and it remains the oldest commissioned ship in the world that is still afloat.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 as the first of six frigates commissioned for the U.S. Navy.
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution's nickname is "Old Ironsides".
The USS Constitution earned its nickname "Old Ironsides" during a battle against the HMS Guerriere in 1812. The Guerriere's cannonballs bounced off the Constitution's hull, prompting a sailor to exclaim, "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!".
The captain of the USS Constitution during the battle against the HMS Guerriere was Captain Isaac Hull.
