USS Essex American Frigate 1799

Description

USS Essex American Frigate circa 1799.  Famous ship of Admiral Porter.

USS Essex of the United States Navy was a 36-gun frigate, built by Enos Briggs, Salem, Massachusetts, at a cost of $139,362. She was launched on 30 September 1799 before a crowd of 12,000 people. Essex is fitth-rate firgate with 850 tons displacement.  She is more than 138 ft long, beam 37 ft and has speed of 11.4 knots (21.1km/h or 13.1 mph). She has participated in the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War, and in the War of 1812. The British captured her in 1814 and she then served as HMS Essex until sold at public auction on 6 June 1837.

America was young. While struggling to establish economic and political stability under the new constitution, the United States faced continued threats from French naval forces against a new and thriving maritime industry. To protect these interests, Congress passed several acts to establish a token naval force; and on June 30, 1798, the act which enabled ESSEX to be built came into being. This act allowed the President to accept vessels of war from private citizens on the credit of the United States. In response to this action, 23 citizens of Salem. Massachusetts opened a “Patriotic Subscription” on July 17, 1798, to build a vessel of war for the United States of America.

On October 25, 1798, a meeting of the sponsors of the first ESSEX was held to determine the type of vessel to be built. From the Salem Gazette of October 26th, 1798, came the following announcement which read in part: “At a meeting in this town on Tuesday last, of those gentlemen who have subscribed to build a ship for the service of the United States, it was voted unanimously to build a frigate of 32 guns. And to loan the same to the government…”

A month later, the frigate’s builder, Enoch Briggs, advertised for shipbuilding materials in a ringing appeal: “Take Notice! Ye sons of freedom! Step forth and give your assistance in building the Frigate to oppose French insolence and piracy! Let every man in possession of a white oak tree feel ambitious to be foremost in hurrying down the timber to Salem… where noble structure is to be fabricated and maintain your rights upon the seas and make the name of America respected among the nations of the world! Your longest and largest trees are wanted four trees are wanted for the keel, which altogether measure 146 feet in length, and hew 16 inches square. Please call on the subscriber, who… will pay ready cash.”