| 1794/03/24 |
George Washington |
US President |
US Congress passes the "Act to provide a Naval Armament" which authorizes President Washington to create the new United States Navy. |
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| 1794/06/28 |
Joshua Humphreys |
Naval Architect |
Joshua Humphreys is appointed Naval Constructor-In-Chief and soon begins designing new ships. Each of the six frigates that will be built are to be copper bottomed - covered below the waterline with 12000 feet of overlapping copper sheets. |
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| 1795/00/00 |
Paul Revere |
Manufacturer |
Revere is hired to provide 15 tons of drawn copper bolts to fasten hull planking to live oak frame, a 242-pound bell and fittings for the USS CONSTITUTION at $3820.33. Revere's foundry draws will down the English-made copper bolts and provide the bell. |
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| 1797/04/30 |
William Rush |
Sculptor |
Rush designs a figurehead (lost) of the Roman god Hercules for the USS "CONSTITUTION of the Empire.... ought to be represented by an Herculean figure, standing on the firm rock of independence" WR. The sculpture is in a painting by Michel Corne c 1803. |
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| 1797/05/00 |
Simon Skillin |
Artisans |
Designed by William Rush of Philadelphia, John and Simon Skillin carve a figurehead of the Roman god Hercules. The only contemporary representation known of it is in a painting of the ship by Michel Felice Corne c 1803. |
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| 1797/05/31 |
Rev William Bentley |
Life |
Rev William Bentley visits the USS CONSTITUTION: Saw the new Ship and the beautiful draught of Col Claghorn. Saw the Head, called Constitution, finished by the Skillings. It is an Hercules with ... the United States and the Constitution. |
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| 1797/07/27 |
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It being of importance to the United States that the Frigate CONSTITUTION should be coppered on the Stocks before she is Launched into the Water .... it will prevent heaving down afterwards and a Consequent heavy expense. James McHenry to George Claghorne |
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| 1797/10/21 |
United States Navy |
Owner |
The USS CONSTITUTION is launched in Boston, Massachusetts. |
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| 1803/00/00 |
Paul Revere and Son |
Manufacturer |
Revere's copper rolling mill in Canton supplies thousands of sheets of copper used to re-fit the CONSTITUTION. |
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| 1804/00/00 |
Tobias Lear |
Groom |
Frances Dandridge Henley, niece of Martha Washington, marries Tobias Lear. They will honeymoon aboard the USS Constitution on their way to Algeria where Tobias is to be Consul General to North Africa. |
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| 1804/09/12 |
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In the early morning as CONSTITUTION sails in the American squadron a dozen miles north of Tripoli (Libya), a gust of wind takes her all aback where she is struck by the USS PRESIDENT, splintering the Hercules figurehead. |
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| 1804/09/13 |
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The CONSTITUTION sails for Malta, where she remains two months for repairs. The figurehead is replaced with a carving of a billethead: a curlicue of wood that provides a neat upper end to the projecting cutwater. |
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| 1804/09/19 |
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discharged this Afternoon the 12 Malta Carpenters They have been employd (Sundays Excepted) since the 24th of September last in repairing the Cut water fitting the Billet head and making other necessary alterations, - Sailing Master Nathaniel Haraden |
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| 1807/06/03 |
Archibald Henderson |
US Marine |
Marine Lieutenant Archibald Henderson begins serving aboard USS CONSTITUTION. |
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| 1811/02/18 |
Dr Charles Cotton |
Military |
Receiving $30.00 per month plus two rations per day, Charles Cotton joins the crew of USS CONSTITUTION as a surgeon's mate. He berths in the cockpit (or steerage) and eats there with the warrant officers. |
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| 1812/08/19 |
Alexander S Wadsworth |
First lieutenant on the Constitution |
USS CONSTITUTION battles the HMS GUERRIERE 350 nautical mile southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia |
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| 1813/04/11 |
Dr Charles Cotton |
Military |
After serving on USS HORNET, Charles Cotton returns to duty on the USS CONSTITUTION where he has the watch assignment of idler and is assigned to the cockpit. |
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| 1813/07/24 |
Dr Charles Cotton |
Military |
Dr Charles Cotton receives his commission as surgeon. Surgeon are paid $50.00 per month with the option of receiving two rations per day. |
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| 1814/06/10 |
Dr Charles Cotton |
Military |
Dr Charles Cotton transfers to Newport Station in Newport, Rhode Island, exchanging places with John A Kearney. |
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| 1815/05/18 |
Archibald Henderson |
US Marine |
Archibald Henderson completes his tour of duty aboard USS CONSTITUTION. |
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| 1830/09/16 |
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr |
Author |
"Old Ironsides", a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes, is published in the Boston Daily Advertiser, bringing national attention to the scrapping USS Constitution. |
Old Ironsides |
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| 1906/00/00 |
Eric Pape |
Work |
Eric Pape designs a petition from Massachusetts to the US Congress to preserve the USS Constitution. This illuminated scroll is now on display in the National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, DC. |
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