USS George Washington (1798)

Sloops-of-war of the United States Navy For other ships with the same name, see USS George Washington.

History

United States
Cost	$69,024
Launched	1793
Acquired	12 October 1798
Fate	Sold, May 1802
General characteristics
Displacement	624 or 654
Length	108 ft (33 m) keel
Beam	32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
Draught	14 ft (4.3 m)
Complement	220 officers and enlisted. Reduced to <100 for 2nd Algiers cruise.
Armament	24x9-pdrs, 8x6-pdrs. Reduced to 15x9-pounders for 2nd Algiers cruise.

The first USS George Washington was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after United States Founding Father and President George Washington.

George Washington was built as a merchant vessel at Providence, R.I., in 1793; purchased by the Congress at Providence 12 October 1798 from John Brown and John Francis for $10,400 in cash and $30,000 in 6 percent navy stock, for use in the developing undeclared naval war (the so-called Quasi-War) with France, and converted to a warship under the supervision of Captain Silas Talbot with Captain Patrick Fletcher in command.

Service

George Washington proceeded in early December to Dominica, in the West Indies, to join Commodore John Barry's squadron for the protection of American commercial against the many French privateer's preying on US shipping and commerce. She rendezvoused with Barry in the USS United States and the USS Constitution at sea 29 December and arrived Dominica next day. For the next few months, she convoyed Americas in the West Indies, sailing from St. Christopher's Island to Tobago. During this time, with revenue cutter Pickering, she recaptured two American ships from the French: the brig Fair American 29 April 1799, and the schooner Francis on 1 May 1799. "Francis" was Captained by Joshua Preble, Lieutenant Edward Preble's brother (Capt. of USRC Pickering).

She departed the Caribbean in mid-1799, arriving Newport, Rhode Island, 12 June 1799, and after a short stay sailed again 2 July. Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert considered her a dull sailer so she wasn't sent back to the Caribbean immediately, instead on this cruise, she searched the coast for French privateers as far south as Charleston, S.C., and then took station off Santo Domingo protecting American commerce. The George Washington returned to the United States, in October 1799, for extensive repairs. On 19 October 1799, she arrived at and was ordered to sail from Marcus Hook to Newport, Rhode Island where her current crew was to be discharged. Extensive repairs were done to her bottom & her bottom was recoppered.

She was taken to Philadelphia in April 1800 and there was outfitted and prepared for sea. In May 1800, Captain William Bainbridge was given command of the George Washington. She sailed from Newport on 13 June. Lacking a strong navy, the United States accepted the questionable alternative of trying to protect its commerce from the Barbary pirates by paying an annual tribute (extortion). Bainbridge sailed with a load of stores and timber for the Dey of Algiers on 8 August. The George Washington arrived safely 17 September, the first American warship to enter the Mediterranean. However, the ship did not contain enough tribute to satisfy the Dey's demands. The Dey demanded the use of the ship and its crew, claiming he owned them since they pay tribute. Unhappily, Bainbridge had to accede to threats and carry the Dey's presents to the Sultan at Constantinople. He protested vigorously but, in the face of concentrated guns ashore and credible threats of retaliation against American shipping, plus threats of seizure, enslavement, and a state of war between the U.S. and Algiers if demands weren't met, he departed 19 October. She arrived at Constantinople on 11 November, 1800. She departed Constantinople on 30 December. She returned to Algiers on 21 January 1801, departing 31 January, and after a visit to Alicant arrived back in the United States on 19 April 1801. In a letter dated 20 February to Josiah Parker, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, Navy Secretary Stoddert recommended selling her. On 4 May 1801, Captain William Bainbridge was relieved of command, and was succeeded by Lt. John Shaw as her Captain.

The ship underwent repairs and was again fitted to carry stores and timber to Algiers. Manned with only a partial crew and reduced armament, she sailed 20 July 1801, escorting the merchantman "Peace & Plenty", both loaded with goods from the U. S. government for the Bey of Tunis, and arrived in Algiers via Málaga, Spain, on 5 October 1801. After calling at Italian and French ports, she returned to Philadelphia about 15 April 1802. George Washington was sold in May 1802 by the Navy agent in Philadelphia, George Harrison.

References

Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 367. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 4 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 496. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 4 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 496. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Ignatius, 1938 pp.369
U.S.Navy, DANFS, USS George Washington, page article, 3rd prgh
Leiner, Frederick (2000). Millions for Defense: The Subscription Warships of 1799. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. p. 124.
"Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, May, 1799 Pg. 116-117" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Ignatius, 1938 p.373
U.S.Navy, DANFS, USS George Washington, page article, 4th prgh
"Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, June, 1799 Pg. 361-362" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
Ignatius, 1938 pp.368–369
U.S.Navy, DANFS, USS George Washington, page article, 5th prgh
"Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799, October to November Pg. 297" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
"Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799, December Pg. 502" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
"Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 6 Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations June to November, 1800, June 1800 Pg. 49" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 483–484. Retrieved 10 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 484. Retrieved 10 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 3 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 400. Retrieved 15 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 3 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 404. Retrieved 15 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 3 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 417. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Harris, 1837 pp.43–46
Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 126. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 3 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 443, 448. Retrieved 17 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 4 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 496. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume I Part 4 of 4 1785 through 1801 (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 521–526. Retrieved 18 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
Allen, 1905, pp.84–85

Bibliography

Allen, Gardner Weld (1905). Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs.
Houghton Mifflin & Co., Boston, New York and Chicago. p. 354. OCLC 2618279. E'Book
Harris, Gardner W. (1837). The Life and Services of Commodore William Bainbridge, United States navy.
Carey Lea & Blanchard, Philadelphia. p. 254. ISBN 0945726589. E'Book E'Book2
Ignatius, Martin; Griffin, Joseph (1903). Commodore John Barry: "the father of the American navy".
Published by the Author, Philadelphia. p. 424. E'Book
Dept U.S.Navy. "USS George Washington".
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY – NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER. Retrieved 1 November 2011.

v t e George Washington
1st President of the United States (1789–1797) Senior Officer of the Army (1798–1799) Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) Delegate to the Second Continental Congress (1775) Delegate to the First Continental Congress (1774)
Military career Revolutionary War	Military career French and Indian War Jumonville Glen Battle of Fort Necessity Battle of the Monongahela Forbes Expedition Washington in the American Revolution Commander-in-chief, Continental Army Aides-de-camp Washington's headquarters office and sleeping tent Boston campaign Siege of Boston New York and New Jersey campaign Delaware River crossing Battle of Trenton Battle of the Assunpink Creek Battle of Princeton Philadelphia campaign Battle of Brandywine Battle of Germantown Battle of White Marsh Valley Forge Battle of Monmouth Battles of Saratoga Sullivan Expedition Yorktown campaign Siege of Yorktown Culper Spy Ring Newburgh Conspiracy Newburgh letter Asgill Affair Evacuation Day Resignation as commander-in-chief Badge of Military Merit Purple Heart Washington Before Boston Medal Horses Nelson Blueskin
Other U.S. founding events	Initiated, co-wrote, 1769 Virginia Association Initiated, 1774 Fairfax Resolves Continental Association Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture 1785 Mount Vernon Conference Chairman, 1787 Constitutional Convention George Washington's political evolution
Presidency (timeline)	1788–89 United States presidential election First inauguration inaugural bible 1792 presidential election Second inauguration Reception at Trenton Title of "Mr. President" Cabinet of the United States Secretary of State Attorney General Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of War Judiciary Act of 1789 Oath Administration Act Nonintercourse Act Whiskey Rebellion Militia Acts of 1792 Coinage Act of 1792 United States Mint Presidential Succession Act of 1792 United States Capitol cornerstone laying Proclamation of Neutrality Neutrality Act of 1794 Jay Treaty Pinckney's Treaty Slave Trade Act of 1794 Residence Act Thanksgiving Proclamation Farewell Address State of the Union Address 1790 1791 1792 1793 1796 Cabinet Federal judicial appointments John Rutledge Supreme Court nominations
Views and public image	Presidential library The Washington Papers Religious views Town Destroyer Legacy
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Related	Bibliography List of articles Founders Online Founding Fathers of the United States Republicanism Federalist Party Federalist Era Virginia dynasty Coat of arms Cherry-tree anecdote River Farm Washington's Crossing Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route 1751 Barbados trip Category Syng inkstand General of the Armies Conway Cabal American Foxhound American Philosophical Society American Revolution patriots Betsy Ross flag Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Mount Vernon replicas George Washington Memorial Building Attempted theft of Washington's skull
Family	Martha Washington (wife) John Parke Custis (stepson) George Washington Parke Custis (step-grandson, adopted son) Eleanor Parke Custis (step-granddaughter, adopted daughter) Augustine Washington (father) Mary Ball Washington (mother) Lawrence Washington (half-brother) Augustine Washington Jr. (half-brother) Elizabeth Washington Lewis (sister) Samuel Washington (brother) John A. Washington (brother) Charles Washington (brother) Lawrence Washington (grandfather) Mildred Gale (grandmother) John Washington (great-grandfather) George Reade (2nd great-grandfather) Bushrod Washington (nephew)
Slavery	Washington and slavery List of enslaved people of Mount Vernon Betty Caroline Branham William Costin West Ford Sarah Johnson Oney Judge Philip Lee William Lee Hercules Posey Christopher Sheels Deborah Squash Harry Washington
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