In 1785, pirates off the Barbary Coast (what is now Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya), were seizing American merchant vessels and holding the crew ransom.
In response, Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 to build six frigates that would accompany and protect American merchant shipping in the Meditteranean.
Shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys’ proposed an unusually long keel and narrow beam (width) with very heavy guns.
This allowed for much heavier planking and thus greater hull strength than frigates of the time.
Humphreys realized that the United States could not match the number of ships deployed by European navies. So he set about designing ships that could outgun and outrun them.
Humphreys’ designs would soon be put to the test.
The British Navy had been harassing US ships and pressing US sailors into serving in the Royal Navy.
So the United States of America declared war on Great Britain for “intolerable grievances” in what became known as the War of 1812.
The British Royal Navy was the strongest in the world at that time.
Let’s look at the odds. United States: 20 warships. Great Britain: 600 warships.
Surely this was suicide for the US. Far from it.
The War of 1812 was probably the greatest chapter in US history—and the USS Constitution played a pivotal role.
It was August 19 when British frigate Guerriere was spotted from the lookout on board Constitution.
Too late—Guerriere opened fire but did little damage.
Astonishingly, many of the British shots rebounded harmlessly off Constitution’s hull.
An American sailor reportedly shouted “Huzzah! her sides are made of iron!” and so stuck the nickname “Old Ironsides”.
Captain Hull maneuvered Constitution to within 25 yards (23 m) of Guerriere and ordered a full double-broadside of grape and round shot, taking out Guerriere’s mizzen-mast (third mast).
Guerriere could no longer maneuver effectively and she collided with Constitution, her bowsprit entangled in rigging.
When the two ships pulled free, the force sent shock waves through Guerriere’s rigging.
Her foremast fell, then the mainmast collapsed. It was all over.
Guerriere was a floating hulk, while Constitution was largely intact.
The British surrendered. The news of Constitution’s victory traveled fast and on arriving back in Boston on 30 August, Hull and his crew were hailed as heroes.
On September 16, 1830, “Old Ironsides” was scheduled to be decommissioned.
Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote a poem that captured the public imagination and helped save her from being scrapped.
Click to read "Old Ironsides" poem.
Constitution is now the oldest commissioned ship in the world still afloat.
Today, the mission of Constitution is to promote understanding of the Navy’s role in war and peace through educational outreach, and public events.
