Eleanor Finch
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 nickname Old Ironsides was earned during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, when the USS Constitution defeated HMS Guerriere, capturing numerous British merchantmen and five warships. The heavy oak timber used in its construction had a density of 75 pounds per cubic foot, making it heavier than water and most other common timbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | USS Constitution |
| Nicknames | Old Ironsides, America's Ship of State |
| Hull material | White oak, live oak, copper |
| Hull thickness | 24-inch |
| Hull layers | 3 |
| Hull density | 75 pounds per cubic foot |
| Construction | Wooden |
| Masts | 3 |
| Launch date | 21 October 1797 |
| Guns | 44 |
| Crew | 450+ |
| Current location | Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston |
| Status | Museum ship |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's 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 world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
The USS Constitution was built in Boston, Massachusetts in 1797. It was one of the first of the original six frigates that made up the US Navy, which was authorised 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 ship was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in the North End of Boston, under the supervision of Captain Samuel Nicholson, master shipwright Colonel George Claghorn and Foreman Prince Athearn of the Martha's Vineyard Athearns. The total construction cost was about $302,000.
The USS Constitution's unique construction made it a formidable and powerful ship. The ship's keel was laid down on 1 November 1794, and its hull was built 21 inches thick. The ship's frame was nearly double the height of the average two-story frame buildings that made up Boston's waterfront architecture. Over the next two years, shipwrights worked to plank the ship's hull, fit beams, install internal diagonal riders, place mast steps, and lay deck planking. The primary materials used in the construction were pine and oak, with the dense oak timber weighing 75 pounds per cubic foot. The huge internal braces of the ship were cut in solid pieces from individual trees, as opposed to being compositely joined on-site. In total, 60 acres of trees were needed for her construction, with the oak used being harvested by enslaved workers.
The USS Constitution was launched on 20 September 1797, with Massachusetts Governor Increase Sumner and President John Adams in attendance. However, the ship's weight caused it to get stuck during the launch, and it was only after a month of rebuilding that the ship finally entered Boston Harbour on 21 October 1797.
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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 USS Constitution was built in Boston, Massachusetts in 1797 and was one of the first six frigates that made up the US Navy. It carried 44 guns and a crew of more than 450.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution won several important victories over the British, demonstrating the capabilities of the new American Navy. In August 1812, the USS Constitution defeated HMS Guerriere, earning the nickname "Old Ironsides". The cannonballs fired by the Guerriere bounced off the Constitution's thick hull, prompting an American sailor to exclaim, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!". The Constitution also defeated four other Royal Navy ships: HMS Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. These victories were a significant boost to American morale and a statement of American naval power.
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The ship's capture of HMS Guerriere
The USS Constitution, under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, sailed from Boston on August 2, 1812, and steered for the waters southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. After two weeks of daily gun drills in preparation for combat, Hull and his crew sighted the British frigate HMS Guerriere, under the command of Captain James Richard Dacres, on the afternoon of August 19, 1812.
Guerriere was one of the ships in a British squadron that Hull and his crew had outrun a few weeks earlier. As Guerriere closed in on the Constitution to within a mile, the British hoisted their colours and released a broadside, but the cannonballs fell short. The crew of the Constitution asked Hull for permission to return fire, but he refused so as not to waste their first broadside. Soon, however, the Constitution slid alongside her opponent and Hull gave the command to fire.
The Constitution's thick hull, composed of white oak planking and live oak frames, proved resilient to enemy cannonballs. During the engagement, an American sailor exclaimed, "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron! See where the shot fell out!" This comment later earned the ship the nickname "Old Ironsides".
The USS Constitution emerged victorious from the battle. The crew took the British sailors on board and set the HMS Guerriere on fire before returning to Boston with news of their victory. The victory proved to be important for American morale, as it demonstrated that the fledgling U.S. Navy could compete with Britain's Royal Navy. Although the battle was relatively inconsequential in strategic terms, it was a pivotal moment in American naval history.
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Old Ironsides' preservation
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat. Launched in 1797, it is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. The nickname Old Ironsides was earned during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, when the Constitution captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships, including HMS Guerriere. The capture of Guerriere was particularly notable, as many of Guerriere's shots rebounded off the Constitution's hull, leading to the exclamation, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!".
Old Ironsides has not seen active service for decades, but it remains in commission as a U.S. Navy warship, open for tours in Boston. It is a national treasure, offering a tangible link to the early history of the United States and its Navy. The ship underwent repairs in 1924 when it was found to be in grave condition, with water needing to be pumped out of her hold daily and her stern in danger of falling off. The necessary funds were raised privately, with schoolchildren donating pennies towards her restoration.
In 1972, the USS Constitution Museum was opened, allowing people to step onboard and learn about the ship's history. Old Ironsides sailed under her own power for her 200th birthday in 1997 and again in 2012 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over Guerriere. In 2015, the ship underwent further preservation work in dry dock.
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The ship's legacy
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and is currently berthed in Boston. The ship's unique construction made it a formidable and powerful vessel. Its hull was 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 from solid pieces of individual trees, rather than being joined together on-site.
The Constitution became known as Old Ironsides during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom. In August of that year, the Constitution defeated the HMS Guerriere, a British warship. During the battle, the Constitution's hull proved to be remarkably durable, with many of the Guerriere's cannonballs bouncing off harmlessly. This led to an exclamation from one of the American sailors, who shouted, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" The Constitution went on to capture or destroy seven more British ships during the War of 1812, including five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant.
After the war, the Constitution continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and even circled the globe in the 1840s. During the American Civil War, it served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. In 1878, it carried American artwork and industrial displays to the Paris Exposition. The Constitution was finally retired from active service in 1881 and became a museum ship in 1907. However, it has continued to sail on special occasions, such as its 200th birthday in 1997 and the 200th anniversary of its victory over Guerriere in 2012.
The legacy of the USS Constitution extends beyond its military achievements. The ship has become a symbol of American naval power and a source of national pride. Its nickname, Old Ironsides, has been adopted by other American military units, such as the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division. The creation of the USS Constitution Museum in 1976 has also allowed the public to step onboard and learn about the ship's history. The ship's endurance and strength continue to inspire and unite Americans, ensuring that its legacy lives on.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" after defeating the HMS Guerriere in 1812. The British cannonballs were seen to bounce off its sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood.
The unexpected victory of Old Ironsides against a British frigate helped unite America behind the war effort. The Constitution went on to defeat or capture seven more British ships in the War of 1812 and ran the British blockade of Boston twice. After the war, Old Ironsides served as the flagship of the navy’s Mediterranean squadron.
The USS Constitution is currently the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It is open for tours in Boston, Massachusetts, where it is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard in the waters of the Boston Harbour.
