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John Cushing Aylwin – born on 14 June 1778 in Quebec, Canada, to Thomas and Lucy Cushing Aylwin, was intended by his father for a life of service in the Royal Navy. According
to nineteenth century sources, however, John rejected that destiny, having seen a friend forcibly abducted by a Royal Navy pressgang. He instead urged his parents to allow him to live with his
maternal family in Massachusetts where he could launch his career at sea. Before his wishes were carried out, however, both Thomas and Lucy died, only months apart, in 1791. The youngster’s
paternal uncle secured his nephew a position as a captain’s apprentice on a merchant voyage to London. The terms of the apprenticeship stipulated that after a period of service the captain
was to permit John to study at a naval academy in England.
To the young sailor’s continuing misfortune, however, his master did not honor the agreement, and retained John on board for a voyage to the West Indies. After two voyages, the fifteen-year
old impressed the captain enough that he was advanced to a ship’s mate. Unfortunately, the good relations between Aylwin and his superior did not continue and the two experienced a falling out.
When the vessel reached London, the captain turned John over to a Royal Navy pressgang and the unlucky youth involuntarily entered His Majesty’s service on board a gun-brig.
With the French Revolutionary Wars in full force, the unwilling tar sailed the world fighting under the Union Jack. After sailing the North Sea, he was in the Mediterranean when Napoleon invaded
Egypt and he likely participated in the naval war that raged in that theatre. Soon the admiralty sent his vessel to the east and he served for more than half a decade in the East Indies, Red
Sea and the Indian Ocean. During that time, he served as captain of the fore-top where he gained further experience as a fighting seaman. Throughout his service, his officers attempted to
convince John to join the Royal Navy voluntarily, even offering him a warrant after he distinguished himself in a boarding action against a French corvette. He steadfastly refused, and only
failing health released him from bondage.
His finding his way to his family in Boston proved salubrious, the veteran sailor regaining his health and serving on board merchant ships. In 1812, with war on the horizon, John sought naval
service and Captain Isaac Hull of Constitution was happy to take on the seadog as his sailing master. Aylwin joined the frigate at Washington and received his warrant on 24 April 1812.
War broke out in June while Constitution was recruiting in Annapolis, Md. After departing the city on 5 July, the 34-year old master’s sailing mettle was tested when an entire British
squadron sighted Constitution off the coast of New Jersey and took up chase on 18 July. The wind proved exceedingly light and Constitution’s sailing master utilized every
trick he learned in his nearly two decades at sea, crowding and wetting sail to take advantage of every feeble breeze as crew members simultaneously towed the frigate using small boats and a kedge.
After two days the wind freshened and allowed the American to leave her pursuers behind. Aylwin’s exertions not only helped the frigate escape certain capture, but prompted the veteran to respect
his less experienced shipmates. “It is not seldom that I have examined the human face in the hour of battle,” he confided to a friend, “and I never before saw any truer stamp of courage than was
then to be found in every sailors countenance“.
From the outset, Aylwin felt confident in the fighting qualities of his vessel. While the U.S. frigates were untested against the Navy in which he had served, he believed they were more than a
match for their British counterparts, a sentiment not universally shared in the American ranks. His optimism proved warranted when Constitution fell in with the 32-gun Guerriere
on 19 August 1812. After sighting the British vessel, Aylwin expertly handled the frigate and put her alongside Guerriere while denying the enemy’s attempt to gain the weather gauge. By 6:00 p.m.,
the vessels traded broadsides and soon the respective crews exchanged musket fire. Late in the battle, the ships came alongside one another. Intending to board the British vessel, Constitution’s
Master of Marines leapt onto the taffrail and was instantly shot dead. Undeterred, Aylwin mounted the rail and was slightly wounded in the left shoulder by musket fire. He remained at his post on
the quarterdeck as Constitution pulled away and maneuvered into an advantageous position against her foe. After nightfall, the British frigate capitulated and the Americans burned her
on the following day. The veteran sailor was elated, and wrote “On the 19[th of] August we fortunately fell in with the Guerriere. I say fortunately, for I would not have missed the
chance-no! not for the richest prize ever floated. It has given our officers and men the only thing hitherto wanting-confidence in themselves.” Commodore Hull promoted Aylwin to lieutenant in
recognition for his performance in the battle.
After putting into Boston, Constitution departed that port on 26 October 1812 under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge. Paired with the sloop Hornet, the
frigate sailed to the coast of Brazil to hunt for British shipping. On 29 December, Constitution again found herself tested by a British frigate. At 9:00 a.m., lookouts sighted sail
that proved to be two ships, one which approached Constitution while the other continued toward land. The approaching vessel proved to be the 38-gun British frigate Java.
Aylwin served as fifth lieutenant during the ensuing action and commanded the forecastle division.
At 2:10 p.m., the men-of-war began action at grape and canister range. Thirty minutes into the engagement, Bainbridge was determined to close his adversary and within ten minutes the vessels
were maneuvering close aboard. When the belligerents seemed destined to collide, Aylwin climbed atop the quarterdeck hammock lashings and fired a brace of pistols at enemy tars preparing to board.
This fearless action exposed him to enemy fire and he was struck by musket fire or grapeshot that passed from under his left collar bone clear through his left shoulder blade. Despite the severity
of the wound, the lieutenant remained at his post and did not call attention to his injury. By 5:25 p.m., Constitution had reduced Java to a wreck and again accepted her
opponent’s surrender. Only after the surgeon had tended to all of the wounded on board did Aylwin reveal that he, too, was hurt. Although the seasoned veteran downplayed the injury, the doctor
recognized the wound as dangerous, one that risked infection. He dressed Aylwin’s shoulder and ordered him to remain immobile in his cabin while it healed.
Days later, however, Constitution’s crew was called to quarters when lookouts spotted a sail on the horizon. Thirsty for action, Aylwin, ignoring the surgeon’s orders, rushed to the
forecastle where he remained and exerted himself for two hours in the tropical summer sun. The vessel, however, proved to be Hornet. According to the surgeon, Aylwin’s actions had
aggravated the wound which became gangrenous. Soon it was apparent that Aylwin’s eventful life was coming to an end. He clung to life for three weeks, intently focused on settling earthly business.
When the surgeon interpreted Aylwin’s incessant activity as betraying a fear of his approaching demise, the veteran officer replied firmly: “Doctor, I have looked death too often in the face to be
afraid of him now.”
On his deathbed, Aylwin’s thoughts reportedly returned to the years he served against his will as an impressed seaman and his role in a war fought in part to end the practice on American shores.
In his last moments, he declared repeatedly “I thank God I am dying in so glorious a cause.” Lt. John Aylwin died on board Constitution on 28 January 1813 at the age of 34 and was
buried at sea. In his tribute to his lieutenant, Commodore Bainbridge wrote, “He was an officer of great merit, much esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He had seen much of
the world, and improved his opportunities of observation; possessed a strong mind with a great benevolence of disposition. In his death our country has suffered a great loss.”
USS Aylwin (DE 1081) (1971-1992) was the fourth ship to be named in his honor, she was preceeded by the galley Aylwin (1813-1815), Destroyer #47 (1914-1933), and DD 355 (1935-1945).
(Photo courtesy of the USS Constitution Museum) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Manager, Navsource
DE / FF / LCS Archive
|
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29 August 1970: Westwego, La. - The future USS Aylwin being christened by by Mrs. Charles K. Duncan. |
S. Dale Hargrave
Newport News, Va. |
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29 August 1970: Westwego, La. - The future USS Aylwin being side launched after being christened. |
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date / location unknown: USS Aylwin (DE 1081) fires an ASROC |
Bob Hurst
Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England, United Kingdom |
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1970's: postcard purchased in Charleston, S.C. |
Eric W. Dahlstrom |
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June 1975: Chesapeake Bay - port beam view of USS Aylwin underway.
(Photo © Richard Leonhardt) |
Richard Leonhardt
Bethlehem, Pa. |
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circa 1978: location unknown - USS Aylwin (FF 1081) underway.
(Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Centre, Photo #USN 1173470 as printed in ""The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"") |
Bob Hurst
Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England, United Kingdom |
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01 October 1985: At sea - The frigate USS Aylwin (FF 1081) operates alongside the battleship
USS Iowa (BB 61) during NATO Exercise Baltic Operations '85.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-04964 by PH1 Jeff Hilton from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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01 October 1985: At sea - A port quarter view of Aylwin breaking away from the battleship
Iowa during NATO Exercise Baltic Operations '85.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-04930 by PH1 Jeff Hilton from the DVIC) |
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01 November 1985: At sea - An elevated port bow view of Aylwin underway.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-04864 by PH3 J. Elliott from the DVIC) |
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01 November 1985: The Atlantic Ocean - A port bow view of USS Merrimack (AO 179),
center, refueling USS Halyburton (FFG 40), left, and Aylwin.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-05141 by PH3 Jeff Elliot from the DVIC) |
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01 November 1985: The Atlantic Ocean - A stern view of Merrimack, center, refueling
Halyburton, right, and Aylwin.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-05140 by PH3 Jeff Elliot from the DVIC) |
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01 November 1985: The Atlantic Ocean - A port quarter view of Merrimack, center,
refueling Halyburton, right, and Aylwin.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-05143 by PH3 Jeff Elliot from the DVIC) |
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01 January 1987: location unknown - A view of the frigate USS Aylwin (FF 1081), the destroyer tender USS
Shenandoah (AD 44) and the frigate USS
Vreeland (FF 1068) at anchor. The Shenandoah is performing repairs on Aylwin and Vreeland.
(U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #DN-SC-88-04641 by PH3 Don Koralewski from DefenseImagery.mil) |
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circa 1987 - 1988: Marseilles, France - Aylwin moored at Marseilles outboard of USS
Shenandoah (AD 44) and USS Compte de Grasse (DD 974).
(Photo by Philippe Gonzales) |
Philippe Gonzales |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A port bow view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia. This nine photo series
walks the compass around Aylwin.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06090 from the DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A bow view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06091 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard bow view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06087 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard amidships close-in view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06086 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard close-in view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06085 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard close-in stern view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06088 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard quarter view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06089 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A stern view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06084 from the DVIC) |
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01 September 1988: Off Hampton Roads, Va. - A port quarter view of Aylwin underway as it leaves Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-06093 from the DVIC) |
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undated image |
Jerrod W. Brown
SM1(SW), USN (ret.)
USS Aylwin '90 to '92 |
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unknown publication image |
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August 1991 (exact date / location unknown): Aylwin, left, and the tank landing ship USS Barnstable County (LST 1197) lie tied up
alongside one another during Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and nine South American nations.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-03554 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
0602108118 |
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August 1991 (exact date / location unknown): Aylwin, left, the tank landing ship USS Barnstable County (LST 1197), center, and the
guided missile destroyer USS Dahlgren (DDG43) lie tied up alongside one another during Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-03556 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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08 August 1991: A port beam view of Aylwin underway during Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-03560 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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14 September 1991: Valparaiso, Chile - Crew members man the rails aboard Aylwin as the vessel arrives in port.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-03982 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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14 September 1991: Valparaiso, Chile - A harbor tug maneuvers Aylwin as the vessel arrives in port.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-10351 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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14 September 1991: Valparaiso, Chile - An officer on the bridge wing of Aylwin communicates information as the vessel prepares to dock in port.
Aylwin is in Valparaiso during exercise UNITAS XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-03983 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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14 September 1991: Valparaiso, Chile - Crew members man the rails aboard Aylwin as the vessel arrives in port.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-03984 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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22 September 1991: The Chilean destroyer Almirante Riveros (18), center, and Aylwin sail off the coast of Chile during the
multinational naval exercise Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-01276 by Lt. Richard Boyle from the DVIC) |
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18 October 1991: Aylwin lies tied up to the pier while on a port visit.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04065 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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06 November 1991: The guided missile destroyer USS Dahlgren (DDG 43), left,
Aylwin, second from left, the Brazilian dock landing ship Ceara (G-30), right, and another ship steam in formation during Unitas XXXII, a combined
exercise involving naval forces from the United States and eight South American nations.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04072 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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22 November 1991: Two tug boats come alongside Aylwin to assist the ship to the pier. Aylwin is visiting the city as part of Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04852 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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22 November 1991: Crew members man the rails aboard Aylwin as the ship waits in the harbor for tug boats to assist it to the pier.
Aylwin is visiting the city as part of Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04850 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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22 November 1991: Line handlers on the pier pick up a messenger line thrown from Aylwin.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04848 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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22 November 1991: Line handlers from aboard Aylwin haul in on a line from the pier as the ship arrives for a visit.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04849< by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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04 December 1991: Aylwin, left, and the guided missile destroyer USS Dahlgren (DDG 43), lie tied up behind the Venezuelan frigate
General Salom (F-25), right, during Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04855 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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08 December 1991: Aylwin is silhouetted against the sunlit water while en route to its home port of Newport, R.I.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04859 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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December 1991: A man dressed as Santa Claus waves from a bridge wing aboard Aylwin as the ship passes another vessel. The Aylwin is
en route to its home port of Newport. R.I., following Unitas XXXII. Some crew members have brought guests aboard the ship for the final leg of its journey home.
(U.S. Navy Photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04858 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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December 1991: An SH-2F Seasprite helicopter flies over the destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD 987),
left, and Aylwin as the ships sail alongside one another before heading for their respective home ports. They are returning home after taking part in Unitas XXXII.
(U.S. Navy Photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04857 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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December 1991: A starboard bow view of Aylwin underway. The Aylwin is en route to its home port of Newport, R.I.
(U.S. Navy Photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04846 by PH2 John D. Bivera from the DVIC) |
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February 1992: Newport, R.I. newspaper photo |
Jerrod W. Brown |
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May 1992: Newport, R.I. newspaper photo |
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08 October 1994: Portsmouth, Va. - A view of a portion of the mothball fleet in storage near Portsmouth. From left to right is the salvage vessel
Preserver (ARS 8) the Knox class frigates
Pharris (FF 1094) and Aylwin and several Newport class tank landing ships.
(U.S. Navy Photo DVID #DN-SC-95-01400 by Don S. Montgomery from the DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
0602108140 |
115k |
15 July 1999: Yorktown, Va. - Port bow view of the Taiwanese frigate Ning Yyang (FF-938) underway, departing the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station.
The Ning Yang was recently transferred to Nationalist China and is the former Knox class frigate Aylwin (FF1081).
(U.S. Navy Photo DVID #DN-SC-02-05481 by William H. Clark, USN employee, from the DVIC) |
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26 May 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - Port view of ROCS Ning Yang (FF- 938) moored at Keelung Harbor. |
Perry Huang |
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26 May 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - View of Ning Yang’s stern from the pier. |
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26 May 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - Ning Yang’s builder‘s plaque. |
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26 May 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - Ning Yang’s 5"54 cal. gun. |
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26 May 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - View into Ning Yang’s hangar. |
