Six Frigates

10/04/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - October 4th
On this day in 1835, CONSTELLATION departed Norfolk Virginia to begin a new assignment, as reported in Philadelphia's United States Gazette newspaper on October 14th 1835:
Norfolk, Oct. 4.
Naval. - The U.S. Frigate Constellation, bearing the broad pendant of Com. DALLAS, bound to the West Indies, got underway from her anchorage off the Naval Hospital, this morning, and proceeded down to Hampton Roads, whence she will sail in a few days, for her station, touching at Trinidad de Cuba.
The following is a list of her officers.
Commodore–Alexander J. Dallas.
Lieutenants–Edmund Byrne, John L. Ball, Stephen Johnson, Gordon Ashton, C.H.A.M Kennedy, George M. Bache.
Fleet Surgeon–Leonard Osborne.
Acting Sailing Master–Raphael Semmes, Jr.
Lieut of Marines–Nathaniel L. Waldron.
Purser John de Bree.
Assistant Surgeons–Samuel C. Luwrason, William W. Volk.
Passed Midshipmen–William Chandler, James K. Bowie, John F. Borden, Roger Perry.
Midshipmen–James M. Fraily, Stephen Dod, John W.D. Ford, William Pope, James H. Strong, Lewis C. Sartori, Samuel A. Turner, Willaim B. Whiting, John O. Wilson, William S. Williamson, John W. Taylor, John S. Booth, E.T. Shubrick, Fransis P. Hoban, William May, Richard H. Lowndes, James A. Doyle, George Wickham, William B. Beverly.
Captain's Clerk–Jacob Martin Jr.
Boatswain–Charles Matthews.
Gunner–Samuel G. City.
Carpenter–John O. Butler.
Sail Maker–Benjamin Crow.
Passengers–Ed. Watmough, Esq. U.S. Consul to Trinidad de Cuba and family.
To join the Squadron on the Pensacola Station.
Lieutenant–Levin M. Powell.
Surgeon–William Plumstead.
Gunner–James Ward.
Sailmaker–William Bennet.

Alexander J. Dallas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_J._Dallas_(United_States_Navy_officer)
Raphael Semmes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Semmes
Levin M. Powell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levin_M._Powell

Naval History & Heritage Command
Historic Ships in Baltimore
Baltimore Heritage
Maryland Historical Trust
Baltimore Museum of Industry

09/27/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - September 27th
After two years of awe-inspiring exploration, covering over 52,000 miles and visiting more than twenty ports around the world, USS Constitution returned home to Boston on September 27th, 1846.

On May 29th, 1844, the legendary USS Constitution embarked on an epic voyage around the globe under the daring command of Captain John “Mad Jack” Percival. The journey began with transporting Ambassador Henry A. Wise and his family to the vibrant shores of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From there, “Old Ironsides” navigated to the exotic ports of Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zanzibar to replenish supplies. On May 10th, 1845, she arrived in Cochinchina (modern-day Vietnam), where the crew attempted to rescue a French bishop held hostage by local authorities, though the mission was ultimately unsuccessful. Undeterred, USS Constitution sailed to the Hawaiian Islands on September 28th, 1845, scouting the picturesque Pearl Harbor and laying the groundwork for a future naval post. After two years of awe-inspiring exploration, covering over 52,000 miles and visiting more than twenty ports, she returned home to Boston on September 27th, 1846. This remarkable journey not only showcased the resilience and spirit of USS Constitution but also left an indelible mark on maritime history.

09/25/2026

The U.S. Navy’s Africa Squadron took concrete action to halt the slave trade with regular patrols in the Atlantic Ocean.

09/24/2026

If you enjoy the video then please hit that like button and subscribe! Help support the Museum by becoming a member - https://www.civilwarmed.org/support/mem...

09/22/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - September 22nd
On this day in 1797, USS Constitution failed to launch a second time...

On Sept. 20, 1797, President John Adams and spectators gathered to witness the launching of USS Constitution. Too large and heavy for the slipway, the ship moved only 27 feet.

Two days later, after adjustments were made, USS Constitution moved another 31 feet before the attempt was halted.

Following additional adjustments to the slipway, USS Constitution successfully launched on Oct. 21, 1797, marking the birth of “Old Ironsides.”

09/22/2026

Six Figates Almanac - on September 21st 1897...

09/20/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - September 20th - on this day in 1797 in Boston, the first attempt to launch USS CONSTITUTION failed.

On this day, 220 years ago, USS Constitution was launched into the Boston Harbor and commissioned as an active duty warship in the United States Navy. However, her story began long before this day.

When the American Revolution ended, the new government of the United States decided to auction off its last ship, a frigate named Alliance, for a sum to help pay the national debt. With this act, the Continental Navy ceased to exist. Without the protection of a Navy the merchant ships of the United States became easy targets for pirates. The Barbary Corsairs of North Africa attacked our merchant ships with little rest in between. For a while the government of the United States did not want to build a navy. The pirates would not stop attacking us and something had to be done. In March of 1794, President George Washington signed an Act to Provide a Naval Aramament, authorizing the construction of six frigates. Constitution would become one of those six.

In the summer of 1795, Constitution's keel was laid in Edmund Harrt's shipyard in Boston. Two years later, her hull was completed and she was deemed ready for launch. On September 20, 1797, a crowd gathered to watch Constitution and at approximately 11:20 am the ship's constructor, Col. George Claghorn, gave the order to launch her. She moved down her launch ramp 27 feet, but would not budge past that. Two days later, on September 22, 1797, Claghorn tried again. Constitution moved an additional 31 feet down her launch ramp but did not enter the Boston Harbor. One month later, on October 21, 1797, Claghorn tried again and this time Constitution made it into the water.

Yesterday, USS Constitution and her crew got underway for her first cruise into the Boston harbor since 2014 in commemoration of the ship's launching 220 years ago, as well as the United States Navy's 242nd birthday.

Due to her crew's tireless dedication to keeping her protected and preserved, "Old Ironsides" is the last of the six original U.S. Navy frigates still standing and holds the title, Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat in the World. Happy birthday USS Constitution!!!!

(Photo from USS Constitution Museum)

09/20/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - September 20th
On this day in 1858, John Durham, acting commandant of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard - PNSY (Kittery, Maine), reports to Secretary of the Navy Isaac Toucey that the yard has rebuilt USS Constitution with "everything new bottom upward" (including the keel):

"The following was the number of timbers that were removed and replaced by new live oak, viz: keel new, keelson, do, floor timbers, do, first futtocks, all new, second, do, third, do, all the top timbers & half top-timbers, do, everything new bottom upward, joiners department, all new." [Ref: "Report on the Nature and Extent of the Building on the Frigate (Corvette) Constitution in the year 1857"]

USS Constitution's 1858 rebuild preserves her 1797 legacy but retires her service as a fighting ship. In contrast to Constellation (rebuilt 1854 to remain in service as a fighting ship), Constitution is to be retained as a museum and training ship. Unlike our modern preservations, very little effort is made to retain original materials. Constitution would be subjected to yet another wholesale rebuild starting in 1927 in which 85% of her material was replaced.

Image: USS Constitution undergoes repairs at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. This is probably the oldest known photograph of Constitution, taken on May 27, 1858 by Albert Gregory. [USS Constitution Museum Collection 2072.1]

USS Constitution
USS Constitution Museum
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Historic Ships in Baltimore
Maryland Center for History and Culture
Naval History & Heritage Command

09/15/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - September 15th
On 15 September 1797, New York newspaper "The Time Piece" reported a yellow fever epidemic then afflicting Philadelphia. In the article is mention of the disease breaking out aboard USS UNITED STATES.
source: Naval History & Heritage Command

09/15/2026

Six Frigates Almanac - September 15th
On 15 September 1797, New York newspaper "The Time Piece" reported CONSTELLATION's launching, in Baltimore, Maryland, on 7 September 1797. The account is highly complementary of the ship's builder, David Stodder, and describes the launch in some detail.
source: Naval History & Heritage Command

Historic Ships in Baltimore
Baltimore Heritage
Maryland Historical Trust
Baltimore Museum of Industry