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USS United States, a 1576-ton sailing frigate, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as one of the first warships of the new United States Navy. Commissioned in July 1797, she cruised vigorously during the 1798-1800 Quasi-War with France, taking several prizes. United States was again active in the 1812-13, this time against the British, and captured the Royal Navy frigate Macedonian on 25 October 1812.
Following the War of 1812, United States was employed in the western Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the eastern Pacific and off Africa. She was laid up at the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1849 and was captured by the Confederates when they seized that facility in April 1861. Placed in Southern service as CSS United States, she was used as a receiving ship but was sunk when the Confederates abandoned Norfolk in May 1862. Though subsequently salvaged by the U.S. Navy, she was not worth repairing and was broken up following the Civil War.
This page features views of USS United States.
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
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Photo #: NH 1016 USS United States (1797-1861) Engraving of the ship under full sail, after a drawing by Master William Brady, USN. Copied from the Kedge Anchor. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 1294 USS United States vs. HMS Macedonian, 25 October 1812 Engraving after Thomas Birch. Courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, collection of the Naval History Society, 1935. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 475 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 1295 USS United States vs. HMS Macedonian, 25 October 1812 Engraving after William Strickland. This action resulted in the capture of the British frigate, which was then taken into the U.S. Navy as USS Macedonian. Courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, collection of the Naval History Society, 1935. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 54488 U.S. Pacific Squadron Watercolor by Gunner William H. Myers, of USS Cyane, showing the Squadron's ships sailing in line abreast, 1842-43. Ships are (from left to right): USS United States, USS Cyane, USS Saint Louis, USS Yorktown and USS Shark. Copied from Journal of a Cruise on the USS Cyane, 1842-1843, by William H. Myers. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
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Historical Center home page.2 November 1998