USS Lexington (1825) facts for kids

USS Lexington off Smyrna in 1828 by R. Corsini
Quick facts for kids History
Name	USS Lexington
Laid down	1825
Commissioned	11 June 1826
Decommissioned	16 November 1830
Recommissioned	31 May 1831
Decommissioned	26 February 1855
Fate	Sold 1860
General characteristics
Type	Sloop-of-war
Tons burthen	691
Length	127 ft (39 m)
Beam	33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)
Draft	16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
Propulsion	Sail
Complement	190 officers and enlisted
Armament	24 × 24-pounder guns

The second USS Lexington was a sloop in the United States Navy. It was built in 1825 at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. The ship started its service on June 11, 1826, with Master Commandant William B. Shubrick in charge.

Early Missions: Protecting Fishermen and Honoring a Hero

The new sloop had important jobs right away.

• First, it was sent to Labrador. Its mission was to protect American fishing boats there.
• After returning to the United States, Lexington sailed to Trinidad. It had a special task: to bring back the body of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Commodore Perry was a famous naval hero. He had died in 1819 while returning from Angostura, Venezuela. He had been there to arrange help against piracy.

Adventures in the Mediterranean Sea

In 1827, Lexington sailed to the Mediterranean Sea. It cruised there for three years.

• In 1828, a painting of the ship was made. It showed Lexington off the coast of Smyrna.
• The ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia, in the fall of 1830. It was taken out of service on November 16.

The Falkland Islands Incident

Lexington was put back into service on May 31, 1831. Master Commandant Silas Duncan took command.

• The ship then went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It served with the Brazil Squadron until 1836.
• In 1831, Captain Duncan sailed to the Falkland Islands. He raided a settlement called Puerto Luis. This happened because American ships had been captured there. It was a disagreement over fishing and seal hunting rights.
• Duncan took seven prisoners aboard Lexington. He charged them with piracy. This event helped lead to Britain taking control of the Falklands again in 1833.

Sailing Around Cape Horn

After the Falklands incident, Lexington sailed around Cape Horn. This is the southern tip of South America.

• Its new job was to protect American trade ships on the Pacific coast.
• In 1834, a diplomat named Edmund Roberts boarded Lexington. He was returning to Boston Harbor after a mission.

Changes and War Service

Lexington returned to the east coast of the United States in 1840.

• It was changed into a store ship. This meant it would carry supplies.
• Its 24 large guns were replaced with six smaller ones called carronades.
• In April 1843, it sailed to the Mediterranean again. It served there for two years.

The Mexican-American War

In 1846, the war with Mexico began. Lexington was operating along the west coast of North America.

• During the war, it helped by moving troops.
• It also helped block enemy ports.
• On January 12, 1847, a group from Lexington landed at San Blas, Nayarit. They captured several enemy guns.

After the War and Gold Rush

After the war, Lexington stayed on the California coast.

• It helped keep things stable as California became part of the U.S.
• It was also there during the early months of the gold rush in 1849.

Final Years and Decommissioning

Lexington returned to the U.S. East Coast in early 1850.

• It operated there until June 18, 1853.
• Then, it joined Commodore Matthew C. Perry's important expedition to Japan. This expedition successfully opened Japan to trade.
• After this mission, Lexington stayed in the East for a while.
• It finally returned to New York. The ship was taken out of service for good on February 26, 1855.
• The sloop Lexington was sold in 1860.

See also

In Spanish: USS Lexington (1825) para niños