USS Essex (1799)
 |
|
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
|
| Name: | USS Essex |
| Namesake: | Essex County, Massachusetts |
| Builder: | Enos Briggs, Salem, Massachusetts |
| Cost: | $139,362 |
| Laid down: | 1798 |
| Launched: | 30 September 1799 |
| Commissioned: | 17 December 1799 |
| Captured: | 28 March 1814 |
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | HMS Essex |
| Acquired: | 28 March 1814 |
| Fate: | Sold at Public Auction, 6 June 1837 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Fifth-rate Frigate |
| Displacement: | 850 long tons (864 t) |
| Tons burthen: | 897 22⁄94(bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 37 ft 3 1⁄2 in (11.4 m) (keel) |
| Draft: | 12 ft 3 in (3.7 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 11 ft 9 in (3.6 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Speed: | 11.4 knots (21.1 km/h; 13.1 mph) |
| General characteristics American service | |
| Armament: |
|
| General characteristics British service | |
| Complement: | 315 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | |
| Service record | |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | |
The first USS Essex of the United States Navy was a 36-gun or 32-gunsailing frigate that participated in the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War, and in the War of 1812. The British captured her in 1814 and she then served as HMS Essex until sold at public auction on 6 June 1837.
The frigate was built by Enos Briggs, Salem, Massachusetts, at a cost of $139,362 subscribed by the people of Salem and Essex County, to a design by William Hackett. Essex was armed with mostly short range carronades that could not hope to match the range of 18 and 24 pounder naval guns. She was launched on 30 September 1799. On 17 December 1799 she was presented to the United States Navy and accepted by Captain Edward Preble.
With the United States involved in naval action against France on 6 January 1800, Essex, under the command of Captain Preble, departed Newport, Rhode Island, in company with Congress to rendezvous with a convoy of merchant ships returning from Batavia, Dutch East Indies. Shortly after commencement of her journey, Essex became the first US Naval Ship to cross the Equator. Congress was dismasted only a few days out, and Essex was obliged to continue her voyage alone, making her mark as the first US man-of-war to double the Cape of Good Hope, both in March and in August 1800 prior to successfully completing her convoy mission in November.
Captain William Bainbridge commanded Essex on her second cruise, whereon she sailed to the Mediterranean with the squadron of Commodore Richard Dale. Dispatched to protect American trade and seamen against depredations by the Barbary pirates, the squadron arrived at Gibraltar on 1 July 1801 and spent the ensuing year convoying American merchantmen and blockading Tripolitan ships in their ports. Following repairs at the Washington Navy Yard in 1802, Essex resumed her duties in the Mediterranean under Captain James Barron in August 1804. She participated in the Battle of Derne on 27 April 1805, and remained in those waters until the conclusion of peace terms in 1806.
...
Wikipedia