USS Philadelphia (1799)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Philadelphia.

USS Philadelphia
History
United States
NameUSS Philadelphia
Cost$179,349
Laid downNovember 14, 1798
LaunchedNovember 28, 1799
CommissionedApril 5, 1800
FateCaptured October 31, 1803, re-captured and burned by the U.S. Navy February 16, 1804
General characteristics
Class and typePhiladelphia-class frigate
Tonnage1240
Length157 ft (48 m) between perpendiculars[1] Keel;130 feet[2]
Beam39 ft (12 m)
Depth13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Complement307 officers and crew
Armament
  • 28 × 18-pounder guns
  • 16 × 9-pounder long guns (replaced with 16 × 32-pounder carronades in 1803)

USS Philadelphia, a 1240-ton, 36-gun frigate, was the second vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Philadelphia. Originally named City of Philadelphia, she was built in 1798–1799 for the United States government by residents of that city. Funding for her construction was raised by a drive that collected $100,000 in one week, in June 1798.[3] She was designed by Josiah Fox and built by Samuel Humphreys, Nathaniel Hutton and John Delavue. Her carved work was done by William Rush of Philadelphia.[4] She was laid down about November 14, 1798, launched on November 28, 1799, and commissioned on April 5, 1800, with Captain Stephen Decatur, Sr. in command.[5] She was captured by Barbary pirates in Tripoli with William Bainbridge in command. Stephen Decatur led a raid that burned her down, preventing her use by the pirates.

  1. ^ Chapelle 1949, p. 549.
  2. ^ 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. 369. Retrieved September 29, 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  3. ^ Canney, 2001, p. 52.
  4. ^ Toll, 2006, pp. 52–54.
  5. ^ Tucker, 1937, p. 17.