American sloop 'Argus' (1803)

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Argus

4206
Nominal Guns16DANFS
NationalityUnited States of America
OperatorUnited States Navy
Ordered28.2.1803B052
Keel Laid Down12.5.1803DANFS
Acquired21.8.1803DANFS
ShipyardCharlestown Navy Yard - Charlestown DANFS
Constructor
Edmund HarttAmerican
Ship Builder
DANFS
CategoryUnratedDANFS
Ship TypeSloopDANFS
Sailing RigBrigDANFS
Captured14.8.1813DANFS

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck94' 6"US Feet28.6893 
Breadth28' 2"US Feet8.5408 
Depth in Hold12' 8"US Feet3.7592 
Burthen299Tons BM 

Armament


1803Broadside Weight = 204 Imperial Pound ( 92.514 kg)DANFS
Gun Deck16 American 24-Pound Carronade
Gun Deck2 American 12-Pounder

14.8.1803Broadside Weight = 228 Imperial Pound ( 103.398 kg)B044
Gun Deck18 American 24-Pound Carronade
Gun Deck2 American 12-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1803142 DANFS
14.8.1813102 NW1812

4 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
8.1803 - 9.1803Lieutenant
Stephen DecaturAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1798-1820
DANFS11.1803 - 1803Lieutenant
Isaac HullAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1798-1815
DANFS1812 - 24.7.1813Master Commandant
Arthur SinclairAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1798-1831
B04424.7.1813 - 14.8.1813Master Commandant
William Henry AllenAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1800-1813
†DANFS

4 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
21.8.1803 - 1803Lieutenant
Joshua BlakeAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1769-1869
B05218.5.1804 - 9.7.1807Lieutenant
Sybrant van SchaickAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1768-1868
B05224.7.1813 - 14.8.1813First Lieutenant
William H WatsonAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1778-1823
B04424.7.1813 - 14.8.1813Second Lieutenant
William Howard AllenAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1822
B044

5 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1803 - 1804Surgeon's Mate
John W DorseyAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1803-1804
B0521803 - 1804Surgeon
Nathaniel WeemsAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1803-1804
B0521803 - 1804Boatswain
George NicholsonAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1803-1804
B0521803 - 1804Purser
Timothy WinnAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1804
B0528.1803 - 1803Master
Samuel B BrooksAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1753-1853
B052

5 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
8.1803 - 1803Midshipman
William G StewartAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1872
B0528.1803 - 1803Midshipman
Samuel G BlodgetAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1769-1812
B0528.1803 - 1803Midshipman
George MannAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1771-1871
B0528.1803 - 1803Midshipman
Pascal Paoli PeckAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1773-1873
B0528.1803 - 1803Midshipman
John PettigrewAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1773-1820
B052

1 Marine


DatesRankNameSource
1803 - 1804Marine Lieutenant
John JohnsonAmerican
Marine
Service 1803-1804
B052

Service History


DateEventSource
12.5.1803Laid down as MerrimackDANFS
4.6.1803Renamed ArgusDANFS
8.9.1803Sailed from BostonDANFS
18.9.1803Put into Newport RIDANFS
28.9.1803Left Newport bound for the MediterraneanDANFS
1.11.1803Arrived in GibraltarDANFS
1804Cruised the western MediterraneanDANFS
3.1804Ordered to join the rest of Commodore Preble's squadron off TripoliB052
30.4.1804Took a small sloop prizeDANFS
6.1804Went to Syracuse to escort a supply vessel back to TripoliB052
19.6.1804Arrived off Tripoli in company with the Constitution and EnterpriseDANFS
7.7.1804Resumed blockade off TripoliDANFS
9.8.1804Approached Tripoli on a reconnaisance mission with Commodore Preble on board, was hit below the waterline by a singleDANFS
4.9.1804Part of the escort for the fire ship Intrepid's attack on TripoliDANFS
1805Returned to the United StatesDANFS
27.4.1805Participated in the attack on DernaDANFS
5.1805Took part in a series of defensive actions in a shore bombardment roleDANFS
11.6.1805Left DernaDANFS
13.7.1805Arrived at the Washington Navy Yard and laid up in ordinaryDANFS
1807Refitted and recommissioned she began cruising on the Atlantic coast until 1813DANFS
8.10.1812Left New York in company with the President, United States and CongressB052
12.10.1812Left the three frigates for a solo cruise, taking 6 prizesB052
3.1.1813Returned to portB052
6.1813Took a single prize on the journeyB052
18.6.1813Left New York bearing the honorable William H. Crawford, the United States minister to FranceDANFS
7.1813Cruised the English Channel and Irish SeaB052
11.7.1813Arrived in L'OrientDANFS
14.7.1813Put to seaDANFS
14.8.1813Encountered and taken by the British brig Pelican after a brief engagementB052
14.8.1813Argus vs Pelican
14.8.1813Taken by
Pelican (16) 1812-1850
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop



Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
1803-1804American Mediterranean Squadron 1803-1804
Edward PrebleAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1761-1807
 
1804-1805American Mediterranean Squadron 1804-1805
Samuel BarronAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1810
 
1805-1806American Mediterranean Squadron 1805-1806
John RodgersAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1798-1837
 

Notes on Ship


Building costB052
The cost of building the Argus was $37,428
 
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