USS Patapsco (1799)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Patapsco and USS Chesapeake.

History
United States
NamePatapsco
NamesakePatapsco River
Launched20 June 1799
FateSold June 1801
General characteristics
Tonnage380
Length87 ft (27 m)
Beam29 ft (8.8 m)
Depth of hold12 ft (3.7 m)
Complement180
Armament20 guns

The first USS Patapsco was a sloop in the United States Navy.

Patapsco was launched as Chesapeake 20 June 1799 by Captain De Rochbruns, and renamed Patapsco between 10 October and 14 November, as both her and frigate Chesapeake, commissioned in 1800, had been given the same name. Name was changed to prevent confusion.[1] She is referred to as Patapsco in letter dated 23 October 1799 written by the Navy Secretary.[2] Patapsco is the name of a river in Maryland.

Sometime in 1800 while in the Delaware (unknown if River or Bay) she rescued the crew of schooner "Whim" that was on fire and put out the fire.[3] Commanded by Captain Henry Geddes, she escorted the brig Acteon to New Orleans, carrying General James Wilkinson and his staff to that port, arriving 10 February 1800.[4] She then cruised in the West Indies, protecting American shipping from French cruisers and privateers during the Quasi-War with France. Operating in Commodore Silas Talbot's squadron, she captured schooner Cecilia after a five-hour chase 28 May 1800. "Cecilia" was seized by a British privateer lugger from the prize crew the next day.[5] On 7 August she captured French letter of marque Dorade. In the autumn she also engaged Louisa Bridge but the schooner escaped.

She aided Merrimack and a British frigate in defeating a French invasion of Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles, before returning to Philadelphia in December. In a letter dated 20 February 1801 to Josiah Parker, Chaiman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, Navy Secretary Stoddert recommended selling her.[6] She was sold there in June 1801 by 7 June for $24,680.[7][8]

  1. ^ "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. 255" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ^ "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. 312" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. ^ 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. 437. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  4. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 206" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 569" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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. 248. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  8. ^ 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. 307. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.