The first Charleston was a galley mounting one 24-pounder gun, identical to Mars[?] (length 52 ft, breadth 15 ft, depth 5.1 ft, complement 28). She was built at Charleston in 1798, commanded by "Captain-of-a-Galley[?]" James Payne[?], and used to defend the coast of South Carolina during the Quasi-War with France. The ship was sold in Charleston around 1 February1802.