USS Constitution

The USS Constitution, known as "Old Ironsides" is a wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy. Named after the United States Constitution, she is the oldest commissioned ship in the world still afloat (HMS Victory is three decades older, but is permanently drydocked).

History

The Constitution was built at Edmund Hart's shipyard in Boston from the resilient lumber of 2,000 live oak trees (specifically Southern live oak) cut and milled at Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons, Georgia. The Constitution's planks were up to seven inches (178 mm) thick. The ship's design was also unique for its time because of a diagonal cross-bracing of the ship's skeleton that contributed considerably to the ship's structural strength. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. Thus armed, Constitution first put to sea 22 July 1798 and saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States during the Quasi-War with France.

Related Topics:
Boston - Live oak - Southern live oak - Gascoigne Bluff - St. Simons, Georgia - Paul Revere - 22 July - 1798 - United States - Quasi-War - France

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In 1803 Constitution was designated flagship for the Mediterranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and went to serve against the Barbary States of North Africa, which were demanding tribute from the United States in exchange for allowing American merchant vessels access to Mediterranean ports. Preble began an aggressive campaign against Tripoli, blockading ports and bombarding fortifications. Finally Tripoli, Tunisia, and Algeria agreed to a peace treaty.

Related Topics:
1803 - Flagship - Mediterranean - Edward Preble - Barbary States - North Africa - Tribute - Tripoli - Tunisia - Algeria

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Constitution patrolled the North African coast for two years after the war ended, to enforce the terms of the treaty.

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She returned to Boston in 1807 for two years of refitting. The ship was recommissioned as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron in 1809 under Commodore John Rodgers.

Related Topics:
1807 - North Atlantic Squadron - 1809 - John Rodgers

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By early 1812, relations with the United Kingdom had deteriorated and the Navy began preparing for war, which was declared 20 June. Captain Isaac Hull, who had been appointed Constitution's commanding officer in 1810, put to sea 12 July, without orders, to prevent being blockaded in port. His intention was to join the five ships of Rodgers' squadron.

Related Topics:
1812 - United Kingdom - 20 June - Isaac Hull - 1810 - 12 July

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Constitution sighted five ships off Egg Harbor, New Jersey, July 17. By the following morning the lookouts had determined they were a British squadron that had sighted Constitution and were giving chase. Finding themselves becalmed, Hull and his seasoned crew put boats over the side to tow their ship out of range. By using kedge anchors to draw the ship forward, and wetting the sails down to take advantage of every breath of wind, Hull slowly made headway against the pursuing British. After two days and nights of toil in the relentless July heat, Constitution finally eluded her pursuers.

Related Topics:
Egg Harbor, New Jersey - July 17 - Kedge anchors

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But one month later on August 19, she met with one of them again—the frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia. The British ship fired the first shot of the battle; 20 minutes later, Guerriere was a dismasted hulk, so badly damaged that she was not worth towing to port. Hull had used his heavier broadsides and his ship's superior sailing ability, while the British, to their astonishment, saw that their shot seemed to rebound harmlessly off Constitution's hull—giving her the nickname "Old Ironsides."

Related Topics:
August 19 - Frigate - HMS ''Guerriere'' - Nova Scotia

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Under the command of William Bainbridge, "Old Ironsides" met HMS Java, another British frigate, in December. Their three-hour engagement left Java unfit for repair, so she was burned. Constitution's victories gave the American people a tremendous boost to morale.

Related Topics:
William Bainbridge - HMS ''Java''

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Despite having to spend many months in port, either under repair or because of blockades, Constitution managed eight more captures, including a British frigate and sloop sailing in company which she fought simultaneously, before peace was declared in 1815. After six years of extensive repairs, she returned to duty as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. She sailed back to Boston in 1828.

Related Topics:
Frigate - Sloop - 1815 - 1828

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An examination in 1830 found her unfit for sea, but the American public expressed great indignation at the recommendation that she be scrapped, especially after publication of Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem "." Congress passed an appropriation for reconstruction and in 1835 she was placed back in commission. She served as flagship in the Mediterranean and the South Pacific and made a 30-month voyage around the world beginning in March 1844.

Related Topics:
1830 - Oliver Wendell Holmes - 1835 - 1844

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In the 1850s she patrolled the African coast in search of slavers, and during the American Civil War served as a training ship for midshipmen.

Related Topics:
1850s - Slaver - American Civil War

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After another period of rebuilding in 1871, she transported goods for the Paris Exposition of 1877 and served once more as a training ship. Decommissioned in 1882, she was used as a receiving ship at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She returned to Boston to celebrate her centennial in 1897.

Related Topics:
1871 - Paris Exposition - 1877 - 1882 - Portsmouth, New Hampshire - 1897

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In 1905, public sentiment saved her once more from scrapping; in 1925 she was restored, through the donations of school children and patriotic groups. Recommissioned 1 July 1931, she set out under tow for a tour of 90 port cities along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of the United States. From 1920-23 she was renamed Old Constitution, to free her name for a new (but ultimately never-completed) battlecruiser.

Related Topics:
1905 - 1925 - 1 July - 1931 - Battlecruiser

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More than 4,600,000 people visited her during the three-year journey. Having secured her position as an American icon, she returned to her home port of Boston. In 1941, she was placed in permanent commission, and an act of Congress in 1954 made the Secretary of the Navy responsible for her upkeep. USS Constitution is currently docked at the Old Navy Shipyard in the Charlestown section of Boston. It is open to the public. For additional information see the web site reference below.

Related Topics:
1941 - 1954 - Secretary of the Navy - Charlestown

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Constitution appears in Patrick O'Brian's book The Fortune of War which includes a fictional version of the action with HMS Java. In the movie, , the fictional French frigate Acheron was modeled after the Constitution. In the novel The Far Side of the World (which was one of the three novels used in the writing of the movie), Acheron was the fictional American frigate USS Norfolk.

Related Topics:
Patrick O'Brian's - ''The Fortune of War'' - HMS ''Java'' - French

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From 1992-95, Constitution underwent a 44 month refit and overhaul ending in the ship being returned to fully sailable condition. Her refit was far less extensive and intensive than Constellation's, as Constitution was in much better shape.

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On 21 July 1997, as part of her 200th birthday celebration, Constitution set sail for the first time in over a century. She was towed from her usual berth in Boston to Marblehead, then set six sails (jibs, topsails, and driver), moved unassisted for an hour and rendered a 21-gun salute.

Related Topics:
21 July - 1997 - Marblehead - Jib - Topsail - Driver - 21-gun salute

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The modern day role of "Old Ironsides" is that of "ship of state". With a mission of promoting the Navy to millions of visitors and observers each year, the crew of 55 modern-day sailors participates in ceremonies, educational programs and special events while keeping the ship open to visitors and providing tours. She is still a fully commissioned vessel in the US Navy fleet. The crew are all active-duty sailors and the assignment is considered special duty in the Navy. Traditionally, the duty of captain of the vessel is assigned to an active duty Navy commander.

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The USS Constitution is one of the sites along the Freedom Trail and is part of Boston National Historical Park.

Related Topics:
Freedom Trail - Boston National Historical Park

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