Constitution (1797)
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:20 pm
The U.S. frigate Constitution more familiarly known as "Old Ironsides" is depicted on a 3 cents stamp of the U.S.A issued in 1947 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the vessels launching. This famous old ship was built at Hartts shipyard in Boston during the years 1794-97, and was launched. on October 21, 1797. Her overall length is 204ft., waterline length 175ft, beam 43.6ft, and depth of hold 14.3ft. Her best sailing draught was 21ft. forward and 23ft aft, and her displacement was 2,200 tons. During her active service days she carried a crew of about 475 officers, seamen and marines. Her original armament of 44 guns was changed from time to time. A nice touch on the stamp is the pair of guns bearing the Royal cipher "G.R"; 18 of the original 24pdr gun-deck pieces were purchased in England and bare this English marking. In 1829 a board of naval commissioners surveyed the frigate and found her unseaworthy. They recommended that she should be broken-up, but it was decided to lay her up for reconstruction at the Boston Navy Yard. Since then the vessel has been restored on several occasions.
Sea Breezes September 1951
USA SG948
FURTHER INFORMATION.
The Constitution blowing up the Java, in 1812, from the painting by Pocock, 25d. stamp, is new to collectors. The Constitution was built at Boston, Mass., under the supervision of George Cleghorn, to the plans of Josiah Fox. The ship was built in the yard of Edmund, Joseph and Edward Hartt, who probably acted as foremen in the construction of the frigate. She was launched on October 21, 1797, after two unsuccessful attempts, and carried 32:pdr. carronades in place of the normal 42-pdrs of ships of her class.
The Java, was a 5th Rate of 38 guns, 1,083 tons, builder's measurement, and was originally a French ship, the Renomee, captured by a British squadron on June 20, 1811, off Madagascar. She was captured on December 9, 1812, by the American Constitution off San Salvador and burnt on the next day.
To commemorate this victory the Americans had a frigate which they named Java built at Baltimore in 1814 by Flannigan and Parsons. She was broken up in 1842 at Norfolk, Virginia.
Sea Breezes September 1951
USA SG948
FURTHER INFORMATION.
The Constitution blowing up the Java, in 1812, from the painting by Pocock, 25d. stamp, is new to collectors. The Constitution was built at Boston, Mass., under the supervision of George Cleghorn, to the plans of Josiah Fox. The ship was built in the yard of Edmund, Joseph and Edward Hartt, who probably acted as foremen in the construction of the frigate. She was launched on October 21, 1797, after two unsuccessful attempts, and carried 32:pdr. carronades in place of the normal 42-pdrs of ships of her class.
The Java, was a 5th Rate of 38 guns, 1,083 tons, builder's measurement, and was originally a French ship, the Renomee, captured by a British squadron on June 20, 1811, off Madagascar. She was captured on December 9, 1812, by the American Constitution off San Salvador and burnt on the next day.
To commemorate this victory the Americans had a frigate which they named Java built at Baltimore in 1814 by Flannigan and Parsons. She was broken up in 1842 at Norfolk, Virginia.