American Fifth Rate frigate 'Adams' (1799)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Recent Comments

 

Adams

2387
Nominal Guns28DANFS
NationalityUnited States of America
OperatorUnited States Navy
Ordered1798B90
Keel Laid Down30.7.1798B90
Launched8.6.1799DANFS
How acquiredPurpose builtDANFS
ShipyardNew York Naval Shipyard - New York DANFS
Designed by
William SheffieldAmerican
Designer
Ship Builder
DANFS
Constructor
John JacksonAmerican
Ship Builder
B90
CategoryFifth RateDANFS
Ship TypeFrigateDANFS
Sailing RigShip RiggedDANFS
Rebuilt1812B90
Becomes
American Fifth Rate frigate 'Adams' (1812) (28) 1812-1814
American 28 Gun
5th Rate Frigate

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck113' 0"Imperial Feet34.4424 
Breadth34' 0"Imperial Feet10.3632 
Depth in Hold10' 9"Imperial Feet3.2766 
Burthen530Tons BM 

Armament


1799Broadside Weight = 144 Imperial Pound ( 65.304 kg)DANFS
Gun Deck24 American 12-Pounder

1799Broadside Weight = 162 Imperial Pound ( 73.467 kg)B90
Gun Deck24 American 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 American 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1799220EstablishmentB90
1799220EstablishmentDANFS

4 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
1799 - 7.1800Captain
Richard V MorrisAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1849
DANFS1800 - 3.1801Captain
Thomas RobinsonAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1850
DANFS1802 - 11.1803Captain
Hugh G CanfieldAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1752-1852
DANFS7.1805 - 9.1806Captain
Alexander MurrayAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1751-1828
DANFS

1 Warrant Officer


DatesRankNameSource
1800Boatswain
James BaileyAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1800
ref:1203

2 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
12.10.1798 - bef.6.10.1800Midshipman
Miligan AlstonAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1798-1800
† Discharged Deadref:12031801 - 13.5.1801Midshipman
Edward AtwoodAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1800-1801
Dismissedref:1203

Service History


DateEventSource
9.1799Left New York for the West Indies
10.1799Captured the brig ZylphaNW1812
10.10.1799Arrived at St ChristopherDANFS
12.11.1799With
Insurgent (36) 1799-1800
American 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
recaptured the English Brig ''Margaret'' (14)
15.11.1799Took the Privateer
L'Onze Vendémiaire (Unknown) 1799-1799
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

20.11.1799With
Insurgent (36) 1799-1800
American 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
retook the schooner ''Nancy''
10.1.1800With
Insurgent (36) 1799-1800
American 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
took the French schooner ''La Fourgeuse''
2.1800Took the French schooners L'Heureuse Rencontre and IsabellaNW1812
5.1800Took two schooners and a Brig as well as retaking two schooners and a British letter of marque
7.1800Returned to New York for repairs
9.1800Cruise to the Caribbean
23.3.1801Ordered back to New York and Laid upDANFS
10.6.1802Left New York for the straights of GibraltarDANFS
22.7.1802Arrived at the straits and began a b lockade of the Tripolitan cruiser ''Meshuda''DANFS
8.4.1803Left blocakde to join the rest of the squadron under
Richard V MorrisAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1849
off Tripoli
25.9.1803Left for America with Commodore
Richard V MorrisAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1849
on board
11.1803Placed in ordinary at Washington
7.1805Reactivated
1806Laid up in WashingtonDANFS
1809Briefly recommisioned enfording the embargo actDANFS
8.1811Became gthe receiving ship at Washington navy yard
1812Recommisioned but blockaded in Chesapeake BayDANFS


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
1802-1803American Mediterranean Squadron 1802-1803
Richard V MorrisAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1849
 
 
Previous comments on this pageno comments to display
Make a comment about this page






Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20F.F.
British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01James Daschuk
British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56AvM
British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37Jon Miller
British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33Jon Miller
British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2026, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement