USS Enterprise (1799) facts for kids
Enterprise capturing Tripolitan Corsair. 1801
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | USS Enterprise |
| Builder | Henry Spencer |
| Cost | ,240 |
| Launched | 1799 |
| Fate | Lost July 9, 1823 |
| General characteristics 1799 | |
| Tons burthen | 135 (bm) |
| Length | 84 ft 7 in (25.78 m) |
| Beam | 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
| Complement | 70 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | 12 × 6 pounder guns (2.7 kg) |
| General characteristics 1800 | |
| Tons burthen | 165 (bm) |
| Length | 83 ft 6 in (25.5 m) |
| Beam | 22 ft 6 in (6.9 m) |
| Depth of hold | 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m) |
| Armament | 14 guns |
The USS Enterprise was a famous American warship. Built in 1799 in Baltimore, Maryland, she was a schooner, a type of sailing ship. Over time, she was rebuilt and changed, becoming a larger ship called a brig. The Enterprise was known for her brave actions. She sailed in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea. She captured many enemy ships before she was lost in July 1823.
Contents
Early Adventures: Protecting Trade
Lieutenant John Shaw was the first commander of the Enterprise. On December 17, 1799, she left the Delaware Capes. Her mission was to protect American merchant ships. This was during the Quasi-War with France. French privateers, which were like armed pirate ships, were attacking American trade.
In her first year, Enterprise was very successful. She captured eight privateer ships. She also freed 11 American ships that had been captured. Because of these achievements, she was one of only 14 ships kept in the Navy after the war.
First Trip to the Mediterranean Sea
After Lieutenant Shaw became ill, Lieutenant Andrew Sterett took command. The Enterprise then sailed to the Mediterranean Sea. She arrived at Gibraltar on June 26, 1801. Here, she joined other U.S. warships. They were there to fight in the First Barbary War. This war was against pirates from North Africa.
Battle with the Corsair Tripoli
The Enterprise had her first big battle on 1 August 1801. West of Malta, she fought a 14-gun Tripolitan corsair ship named Tripoli. It was a fierce fight, but the Enterprise won. She was not damaged at all. The defeated pirate ship was sent to port.
The U.S. Congress honored Lieutenant Sterett for this victory. He received a special sword. The rest of the Enterprise crew received an extra month's pay.
Mediterranean Patrols and Victories
After her first big battle, Enterprise continued her patrols. She carried important messages and protected merchant ships. In 1803, she had more victories. On January 17, she captured a Tunisian ship called Paulina. On May 22, she forced a 30-ton enemy boat ashore in Tripoli. For the next month, Enterprise and other ships attacked the coast. They destroyed enemy boats.
On November 12, 1803, Stephen Decatur became the commander of Enterprise. On December 23, 1803, Enterprise and the frigate Constitution captured the Tripolitan ship Mastico. This captured ship was renamed Intrepid. Lieutenant Decatur took command of the Intrepid.
The Intrepid was used in a very brave plan. She sailed into Tripoli's harbor without being noticed. Decatur and volunteers from Enterprise boarded and burned the frigate Philadelphia. This American ship had been captured by the Tripolitans. Destroying it stopped the enemy from using a powerful warship.
Enterprise continued to patrol the Barbary Coast. In July 1804, she joined other ships. They attacked the city of Tripoli for several weeks.
The Enterprise spent the winter of 1805 in Venice, Italy. There, she was almost completely rebuilt. She then returned to duty. She patrolled and protected convoys until August 1807. She even fought a short battle with Spanish gunboats near Gibraltar. In late 1807, Enterprise returned to the United States.
Rebuilding and the War of 1812
The Enterprise was repaired at the Washington Navy Yard. In April 1811, she was ready for duty again. She sailed for operations off Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. She returned to Washington for more repairs. When she sailed again on May 20, 1812, she had been changed into a brig. This meant she had a different type of sails.
When the War of 1812 against Britain began, Enterprise was at sea. She patrolled the east coast. On September 5, 1813, Enterprise found and chased the British brig Boxer. The two ships fought a fierce battle. Both commanding officers, Lieutenant William Burrows of Enterprise and Captain Samuel Blyth of Boxer, were killed. Enterprise captured the Boxer. Both commanders were buried together in Portland, Maine.
Final Years and Fate
After repairs, Enterprise sailed to the Caribbean. She captured three enemy ships. On February 25, 1814, she had to escape from a heavily armed ship. To get away, Enterprise had to throw most of her guns overboard. She reached Wilmington, North Carolina, on March 9, 1814. She spent the rest of the war as a guardship.
Enterprise served another short time in the Mediterranean Squadron in 1815. Then she patrolled the northeastern coast until 1817. In 1818, she was part of the New Orleans Squadron. She helped remove the pirate Jean Lafitte from Galveston, Texas.
From then on, she sailed the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. She was one of the first ships of what became the West Indies Squadron. Her job was to stop pirates, smugglers, and slave traders. She captured 13 ships doing this work. In October 1821, she attacked Cape Antonio, Cuba. She rescued three ships taken by pirates. She also broke up a pirate group.
The amazing career of the Enterprise ended on July 9, 1823. She ran aground and broke apart on Little Curacao Island in the West Indies. Luckily, no one on her crew was hurt.
Legacy of the Enterprise
Because of her famous career, the ship was nicknamed "Lucky Enterprise". A racing yacht that won the 1930 America's Cup was named after her. This yacht even had a model of the original Enterprise in its captain's cabin.
| Preceded by 1775 |
USS Enterprise 1799–1823 |
Succeeded by 1831 |
See also
- List of historical schooners
- List of ships of the United States Navy named Enterprise
- The fictional Star Ship USS Enterprise, featured in the Star Trek television and films series, is named after the real life line of naval vessels named Enterprise.
