Jonah Patel
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and was 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 by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. The USS Constitution has had several other names over the years, including Old Ironsides and Old Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | USS Constitution |
| Nickname | Old Ironsides |
| Type | Three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate |
| Owner | United States Navy |
| Construction | Authorized by Congress with the passage of the Naval Act of 1794; Designed by Joshua Humphreys; Built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts; Constructed with timbers from Maine to Georgia, copper bolts and spikes supplied by Paul Revere |
| Launch Date | 21 October 1797 |
| First Commander | Captain Samuel Nicholson |
| First Duties | Provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War |
| Notable Battles | War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant |
| Retirement from Active Service | 1881 |
| Museum Ship | Designated in 1907 |
| Renovation | Multi-year planned restoration commenced in Dry Dock 1 in Charlestown Navy Yard on 18 May 2015 |
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What You'll Learn
- The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a frigate of the US Navy
- The name was among ten names submitted to President George Washington
- The ship was launched in 1797, as one of six frigates authorised by the Naval Act of 1794
- The Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
- The ship was first commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholson
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a frigate of the US Navy
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Its first duties were to protect American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship also saw action during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing numerous British merchant ships and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. It was during the capture of Guerriere that the USS Constitution earned its nickname, "Old Ironsides". Many of Guerriere's shots rebounded off the Constitution's hull, leading an American sailor to exclaim: "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!".
The USS Constitution continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the world in the 1840s. During the American Civil War, it served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. The ship was retired from active service in 1881 and served as a receiving ship until it became a museum ship in 1907. However, it has sailed under its own power on several occasions since, including for its 200th birthday in 1997 and again in 2012 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of its victory over Guerriere.
The USS Constitution has become a symbol of the US Navy and the nation's first 100 years. It remains in commission as a US Navy warship and is open for tours in Boston.
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The name was among ten names submitted to President George Washington
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 frigate was launched in 1797 and was 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 by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March or May 1797 for the frigates that were to be constructed. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period, serving as the young Navy's capital ships.
The name "Constitution" was initially intended for the lead ship of the class, but it was shuffled between hulls until the CC-5 hull was given the name. The construction of CC-5 was cancelled in 1923 due to the Washington Naval Treaty, and the incomplete hull was sold for scrap. The name "Old Ironsides" was earned during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, when the USS Constitution captured five warships, including HMS Guerriere. This capture added to the public adoration that had repeatedly saved the ship from scrapping.
The USS Constitution has undergone several restorations over the years, including in 1834, 1906, 1992-1996, and 2015. In 1905, there were plans to use the ship for target practice and then allow it to sink, but public protest prompted Congress to authorize funds for its restoration. The ship served as a museum ship starting in 1907, and in 1917, it was renamed Old Constitution to free up its name for a planned new Lexington-class battlecruiser. In 1924, the ship was found to be in grave condition, and it was recommended that she be thoroughly repaired to preserve her as long as possible. The USS Constitution completed a three-year, 90-port tour of the nation from 1931 to 1934 and sailed under its own power for its 200th birthday in 1997 and again in 2012 to commemorate its victory over HMS Guerriere.
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The ship was launched in 1797, as one of six frigates authorised by the Naval Act of 1794
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate in the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in Boston, Massachusetts, on 21 October 1797, as one of six frigates authorised by the Naval Act of 1794.
The Naval Act of 1794 was passed by Congress on 27 March 1794, with a budget of $688,888.82 (equivalent to $18.1 million in 2023). The six frigates were constructed during the formative years of the United States Navy, on the recommendation of Joshua Humphreys, the frigates' designer. Humphreys recognised that the fledgling United States could not match the naval power of European states. Therefore, he designed the frigates to be powerful enough to defeat any frigate of the French or British navies, while also being fast enough to evade a ship of the line.
The USS Constitution was constructed at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. It was built using timbers from Maine to Georgia, as well as copper bolts and spikes supplied by Paul Revere. The ship was launched with a crew of 450 and initially cruised the West Indies, protecting U.S. shipping from French privateers. In 1798, the USS Constitution was put to sea, with Captain Samuel Nicholson as its first commander.
The USS Constitution has had a long and illustrious career. During the War of 1812, it earned its nickname, Old Ironsides, after defeating the British frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia. Witnesses claimed that British cannonballs merely bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood. The unexpected victory of the USS Constitution against the supposedly invincible Royal Navy greatly boosted morale for the young American republic. The ship went on to defeat or capture seven more British ships during the War of 1812.
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The Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
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 USS Constitution was launched in 1797 and was the third 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 by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period.
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. The keel was laid down on November 1, 1794, under the supervision of Captain Samuel Nicholson, master shipwright Colonel George Claghorn, and Foreman Prince Athearn of Martha's Vineyard Athearns. The hull of the USS Constitution was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick, with a length of 175 ft (53 m) between perpendiculars and an overall length of 204 ft (62 m). The ship required 60 acres (24 ha) of trees, primarily pine and oak, for its construction.
Edmund Hartt (1744-1824) was a master carpenter and owned the shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the USS Constitution, Hartt also built the USS Boston (1799), USS Argus (1803), and USS Independence (1814). Hartt and his descendants lived in "Hartt House" at 24-26 Hull Street in Boston, and he is buried at Copp's Hill Burying Ground. His son, Samuel Hartt, was also a prominent shipbuilder for the U.S. Navy, constructing the Navy's first steamship and ironclad ships.
The USS Constitution's first duties included protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing numerous British merchant ships and five warships. The capture of HMS Guerriere earned the ship its nickname, "Old Ironsides." The USS Constitution continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the world in the 1840s. During the American Civil War, it served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy.
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The ship was first commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholson
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 one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794.
Captain Nicholson's first duties included patrols along the U.S. east coast, where the USS Constitution became the flagship of the Santo Domingo Station. During this time, the ship captured multiple vessels, including the 24-gun Niger, Spencer, and the letter-of-marque Sandwich during the Quasi-War with France.
Captain Nicholson's command of the USS Constitution demonstrated the ship's prowess and capabilities. The ship's early successes under his leadership set a precedent for its long and distinguished career in the United States Navy. Captain Nicholson's tenure as the first commander laid the foundation for the USS Constitution's enduring legacy as one of the most renowned naval warships in history.
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Frequently asked questions
The Friget Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was originally named USS Constitution.
The nickname "Old Ironsides" was earned during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom when she captured five warships, including HMS Guerriere.
Joshua Humphreys designed the Friget Constitution.
The Friget Constitution was launched on 21 October 1797.
The Friget Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat and can sail under its own power.
