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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Baltimore (II)

Ship:

Built as th merchant ship Adriana in 1795 at Baltimore, MD.

Acquired by the Navy, 3 May 1798, through funds donated by the citizens of Baltimore

Renamed Baltimore, 29 June 1798

Commissioned Baltimore, summer 1798, CAPT. Isaac Phillips in command

Baltimore was almost immediately pressed into service to protect American merchant shipping in the Caribbean against pirates and French warships and privateers in what would become known as the Quasi-War with France

She joined Constellation in September sailing to Havana to escort a large convoy of American merchantmen to the United States

The convoy of 40 merchantmen departed Havana, 29 September completing the journey without incident

Baltimore then escorted a Charleston to Havana convoy in late October encountering a British squadron on 16 November

Capt. Phillips in Baltimore ordered the ships of the convoy to scatter and make it into Havana as best they could while he diverted the British squadron's attention

Phillips went on board the British flagship at the invitation of the squadron commodore learning that the British intended to impress Baltimore crewmen

When he arrived back on board Baltimore, he found a British officer mustering his crew for inspection and impressment

Capt. Phillips allowed the British officer to take off 55 members of his crew, all but 5 crew members were returned

Baltimore continued on to Havana where she gathered a return convoy which reached the US in late December 1798

For allowing such a flagrant violation of American sovereignty CAPT. Phillips was summarily dismissed from the Navy on 10 January 1799

Baltimore returned to convoy duty with her first lieutenant, Josias M. Speake in temporary command until Capt. Samuel Barron assumed command

Baltimore continued to cruise the West Indies in search of French privateers through the spring and summer of 1800

The ship returned to Baltimore in mid-November 1800 where she was made ready for disposal

She was sold to the city of Baltimore sometime in 1801

Specifications:
Displacement 422 t.
Length 103' 9"
Beam 30' 8"
Depth of Hold unknown
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement 180

Armament

eighteen 9-pdrs

six 4-pdrs

Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
098667501	161k	Contemporary model of USS Baltimore (I), built at Baltimore in 1798 by LT. Daniel R. Randall, sold to William Patterson in 1801. Loaned by the Maryland Historical Society, 1934. U.S Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 620.		Robert Hurst

Baltimore (II)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 24 March 2023