USS Nautilus (1799)

"Nautilus" was a schooner launched in 1799 and purchased by the United States Navy in 1803 as USS "Nautilus", the first ship to bear that name. She served in the First Barbary War. She was altered to a brigantine. The "Nautilus" was captured by the British during the War of 1812.

"Nautilus" was built in 1799 as a merchant vessel by Henry Spencer on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She was purchased by the Navy in May 1803, at Baltimore, Maryland, from Thomas Tennant; and commissioned 24 June 1803, Lieutenant Richard Somers in command.

ervice history

First Barbary War

"Nautilus" sailed to Hampton Roads, whence she got underway on 30 June for the Mediterranean, carrying dispatches for the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron stationed there assigned to protect the interests of the United States and its citizens residing or trading in that area, and threatened at that time by the Barbary States.

"Nautilus" arrived at Gibraltar on 27 July and departed again on the 31st to deliver dispatches to Captain John Rodgers in into Tripoli harbor and burned the captured "Philadelphia", "Nautilus" cruised off Tunis.

Toward the end of the month "Nautilus" retired to Syracuse, returning to Tripoli in mid-March. During May and June she repaired at Messina. Departing 5 July, she joined "Constitution" off Tripoli on the 25th. During August and early September, she took part in the siege of Tripoli and saw action in five general attacks between 3 August and 3 September. For the next five months, she continued to cruise off Tripoli and Tunis, retiring periodically to Syracuse and Malta, whence in February 1805, she sailed to Livorno to acquire a new mainmast.

On 27 April 1805, with Oliver Hazard Perry in command, she arrived off Derne to participate in the attack, capture, and occupation of that town. She remained until 17 May, during which time she provided cover for the forces of Hamet Caramanli, former Bashaw of Tripoli, as they went into action against the army of Hamet's brother Yusuf ibn Ali Karamanli, who had overthrown Hamet and assumed his title. Departing on the 17th, "Nautilus" retired to Malta with dispatches and casualties. At the end of the month, she returned to Tripoli and on 10 June hostilities ceased with the signing of a peace treaty.

"Nautilus" remained in the Mediterranean for a year after the treaty went into effect, conducting operations from Malta and Gibraltar. In the spring of 1806 she was assigned to Algiers for dispatch duty, sailing in June for the United States. Arriving at Washington, D.C., in mid-July, she entered the Washington Navy Yard there and was placed in ordinary. Reactivated in 1808, she was employed on the East Coast until entering the Navy Yard again in 1810. Then altered to a brig, with a battery of twelve 18-pounder (8 kg) carronades, she recommissioned in 1811 and joined the squadron commanded by Stephen Decatur.

The following year, the War of 1812 with Britain broke out and on 17 July 1812, "Nautilus" gained the dubious distinction of being the first vessel lost on either side. Captured off northern New Jersey by a squadron built around HMS|Africa|1781|2 (64 guns), HMS|Shannon|1806|2 (38 guns), and HMS|Aeolus|1801|2 (32 guns), the brig was taken into possession for the use of the King's service.

References