USS Ontario (1813) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name | USS Ontario |
| Builder | Thomas Kemp, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Laid down | 1813 |
| Fate | Sold 15 July 1856 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sloop-of-war |
| Displacement | 509 long tons (517 t) |
| Length | 117 ft 11 in (35.94 m) |
| Beam | 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 150 |
| Armament |
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The second USS Ontario was a special kind of warship called a sloop-of-war. It had three masts and a wooden hull. This ship carried 16 guns and served the United States Navy during and after the War of 1812. It also played a role in the Second Barbary War. The Ontario was built in Baltimore, Maryland, by Thomas Kemp in 1813.
During the War of 1812, the ship was stuck in Chesapeake Bay. But on May 20, 1815, it finally sailed from New York to the Mediterranean Sea. At that time, Jesse D. Elliott was its commander.
Contents
Fighting Pirates in the Mediterranean
The Ontario reached Gibraltar on June 15, 1815. There, it joined a group of ten ships led by Commodore Stephen Decatur. This group was sent to the Mediterranean to stop pirates from the Barbary states of Tripoli and Algiers. These pirates had caused trouble for many years.
Other ships in the fleet included the frigates Constellation and Guerriere. The sloop Epervier was used to carry a signed peace treaty back home. The Ontario helped block the port of Algiers. By June, the leader of Algiers finally agreed to sign a peace treaty with Decatur.
After that, the Ontario and the other ships sailed to Tripoli and Tunis. They demanded money for goods that pirates had stolen. The ship continued to protect American trading interests. It then sailed home, arriving in New York in early 1817.
Exploring the Pacific Ocean
On October 4, the Ontario began a new and important mission. Under Captain James Biddle, it sailed to the Pacific Ocean. First, it stopped at Rio de Janeiro to deliver important messages. Then, the sloop sailed around the very bottom of South America, Cape Horn. It arrived in Valparaíso, Chile, in early 1818.
At that time, Chile was fighting for its freedom in the Chilean War of Independence. Spanish ships were blocking the port of Valparaíso, and American trading ships were being captured. Captain Biddle talked with the officials there. He successfully got the captured U.S. ships released.
Next, the Ontario sailed north. On August 19, it reached Cape Disappointment near the Columbia River. There, the ship officially claimed both sides of the river for the United States. Then, it sailed south, stopping at Monterey, California, for supplies. This made the Ontario the first U.S. Navy ship to visit the areas that would become California, Oregon, and Washington. The ship sailed home that fall. It stopped in Valparaíso again and saw Lord Cochrane's sea campaign against Spain begin. Finally, it arrived back in Chesapeake Bay on April 23, 1819.
Protecting American Interests
The Ontario continued its important work for the U.S. Navy.
Mediterranean Trips
On January 18, 1821, the Ontario left New York harbor for another long trip. It stopped in the West Indies before heading to the Mediterranean Sea. On June 4, it arrived at Gibraltar and joined Commodore William Bainbridge's group of ships. The Ontario stayed in those waters for over two and a half years. It returned to New York on January 25, 1824. After six months of repairs, it sailed for a second long trip with the Mediterranean Squadron on July 24. The Ontario came home on February 20, 1828. It then made two more trips to the Mediterranean: from August 1829 to May 1832, and from November 1833 to June 1836.
Caribbean and Final Years
Its next mission began on August 19, 1837, when it sailed to the West Indies. It worked there until its group joined the Home Squadron in 1838. This lasted until the spring of 1840. The warship mostly protected U.S. trade from pirate attacks. It also visited Caribbean ports to show the U.S. flag. It operated from Havana and Pensacola, making sure America stayed neutral during France's actions in Mexico. It returned to New York on June 2.
For its very last mission, the Ontario left for New Orleans on February 22, 1842. It protected American ships and other interests. Then, it sailed to Norfolk and finally to Baltimore on July 30, 1843. In Baltimore, the ship became a "receiving ship" at the Navy Yard. This meant it was used as a floating office or barracks. The Ontario stayed in service there until June 1856. After serving the United States for many years, the Ontario was sold at a public auction on July 15.
See also
- List of sailing frigates of the United States Navy
