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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

US Frigate Philadelphia (II)

Frigate:

Laid down, 14 November 1798, at Philadelphia as the Frigate City of Philadelphia by Samuel Humphreys, Nathaniel Hutton and John Delavue

Launched, 28 November 1799

Commissioned USF Philadelphia, CAPT Stephen Decatur, Sr. in command

Relieved USF Constellation in May 1800 on the West Indies Station, capturing five French armed vessels and recapturing six merchant ships which had fallen into French hands

Returned to Philadelphia in March 1801

Assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron, CAPT. Samuel Barron in command

Assigned to patrol the Straits of Gibraltar and blockade the coast of Tripoli in May 1802 to prevent the Bashaw from seizing American Merchantmen for ransom

Placed in Ordinary at Philadelphia from mid-July to mid-May 1803

Recommissioned, 21 May 1803, CAPT. William Bainbridge in command

Returned to Gibraltar, 24 August, 1803, recaptured the American brig Celia from the Moroccan ship-of-war Mirboka, 26 August 1803

Sailed for Tripoli in early October with schooner USS Vixen to establish a blockade of the port

Ran aground, 31 October 1803, off Tripoli harbor, forced to strike her colors and surrender, officers and men captured

Ship was refloated and towed into the harbor by Tripoli

Recaptured and burned, 16 February 1804, by US Navy during a daring port raid on Tripoli by LT. Stephen Decatur in USS Intrepid and LT. Charles Stewart in brig USS Syren

Specifications:
Displacement 1,240 t.
Length 130'
Beam 39'
Depth of Hold 13' 6"
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement 307
Armament

twenty-eight 18-pdr guns

Propulsion sail

USF Philadelphia (II)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Documents Official and Unofficial Relating to the Case of the Capture and Destruction of the Frigate Philadelphia"

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 26 July 2019

Size	Image Description	Source
162k	"Preparation for WAR to defend Commerce," Birch's Views of *Philadelphia, Published by W. Birch, Springland Cot. near Neshaminy Bridge on the Bristol Road, Pennsylvania, 31 December 1800. Drawn and engraved by W. Birch & Son. From The City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania North America; as it appeared in the Year 1800, Plate 29. Sold by R. Campbell & Co. No.30 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, 1800. US Naval History & Heritage Command photo # NH 50457* Courtesy President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936.	Robert Hurst
94k	View of Tetuan, on the Coast of Morocco" Stipple engraving by Wells, after a drawing by "P.S.O.", published by J. Gold, London, England, in the "Naval Chronicle", Volume 10 (1803). This print depicts the U.S. Frigate Philadelphia entering the harbor, where two British ships-of-the-line lie at anchor. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 65865	US Naval History and Heritage Command
27k	USF Philadelphia entering Tripoli harbor, where two British ships-of-the-line lie at anchor. Stipple engraving by Wells, after a drawing by "P.S.O.", published by J. Gold, London, England, in the Naval Chronicle, Volume 10 (1803).	Robert Hurst
120k	"A perspective View of the loss of the U.S. Frigate Philadelphia in which is represented her relative position to the Tripoli Gun-boats when during their furious attack upon her she was unable to get a single gun to bear upon them" Contemporary engraving after a drawing by Charles Denoon. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 1071, Courtesy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
135k	"The United States Frigate Philadelphia on the Rocks off Tripoli" Lithograph by E.J. Pinkerton, published by F.S. Duval, Lithographer, Philadelphia. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 50458, Courtesy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
120k	Sketch by Fred S. Cozzens, copied from his book "Our Navy -- Its Growth and Achievements", 1897, depicting USF Philadelphia under attack by gunboats while aground off Tripoli. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 74530	US Naval History and Heritage Command
119k	A sketch by William Bainbridge Hoff of stranding and capture of USF Philadelphia, 31 October 1803. It depicts *Philadelphia* under attack by gunboats off Tripoli, after she ran aground on uncharted rocks while chasing a small enemy vessel. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 56734	US Naval History and Heritage Command
144k	"Boarding the *Philadelphia" Halftone reproduction of an artwork by J.O. Davidson, depicting the boarding of the captured U.S. Frigate Philadelphia* by a party led by LT. Stephen Decatur, in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Copied from a book entitled "History of the Navy". US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 1340	US Naval History and Heritage Command
155k	Reproduction of a 19th Century engraving, depicting LT. Stephen Decatur leading his men as they recaptured the USF Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, prior to setting her afire. Published in the "American Weekly" supplement to the "Washington Times-Herald", circa March-April 1940, illustrating an article by Harold T. Wilkins. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 50525	US Naval History and Heritage Command
86k	"Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804" Oil on canvas, 60" by 42", by Edward Moran (1829-1901), signed and dated by the artist, 1897. It depicts USF Philadelphia, previously captured by the Tripolitans, ablaze after she was boarded and set afire by a party from the ketch USS Intrepid led by LT. Stephen Decatur. Painting in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum Collection. Gift of Paul E. Sutro, 1940. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 10849	Tommy Trampp
129k	19th Century painting depicting USF Philadelphia aflame in Tripoli harbor, after she had been captured and set afire by LT. Stephen Decatur's boarding party. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 50459. Courtesy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
121k	Artwork from the collection of Mr. Stephen Decatur, depicting USF Philadelphia afire after she was boarded and set ablaze by a party led by LT. Stephen Decatur. In the left foreground is the ketch USS Intrepid, which Decatur used during this mission. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 56735.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
143k	"Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbour of Tripoli, 16th Feb. 1804, by 70 Gallant Tars of Columbia commanded by Lieut. Decatur." Aquatint engraving by F. Kearney, published in August 1808. It depicts the ketch USS Intrepid, under LT. Stephen Decatur, at left, leaving Tripoli harbor after her crew had boarded the USS Philadelphia and set the ship ablaze. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 56751.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
147k	"Burning of the Philadelphia." 19th Century engraving, depicting the burning of USF Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor by a boarding party led by LT. Stephen Decatur, 16 February 1804. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 60689.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
407k	USF Philadelphia burns in Tripoli harbor as Decatur and his men escape. "History of the US Navy", by James M. Morris, page 30	Tommy Trampp
85k	Fragment of the decorative woodwork from the US Frigate Philadelphia's stern, recovered from Tripoli harbor and presented to the Naval Lyceum, Brooklyn, New York, 10 February 1835, by Midshipman J.A. Underwood. The artifact was subsequently transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 42799	US Naval History and Heritage Command