USS Delaware (1820)

The third USS Delaware of the United States Navy was a 74-gun ship of the line.

She was laid down at Norfolk Navy Yard in August 1817 and launched 21 October 1820. She was roofed over and kept at the yard in ordinary[?] until on 27 March 1827 she was ordered repaired and fitted for sea. Delaware put to sea 10 February 1828 under the command of Captain J. Downs[?] to become the flagship of Commodore W. M. Crane[?] in the Mediterranean. Arriving at Algeciras Bay[?], Spain, 23 March, she served in the interests of American commerce and diplomacy in that area until returning to Norfolk 2 January 1830.

Delaware was decommissioned 10 February 1830, and lay in ordinary at Norfolk until 1833. Recommissioned 15 July 1833, she received President Andrew Jackson on board 29 July, firing a 24-gun (sic) salute at both his arrival and departure. The following day she set sail for the Mediterranean where she served as flagship for Commodore D. T. Patterson[?] and cruised on goodwill visits and for the protection of the rights and property of American citizens until her return to Hampton Roads, 16 February 1836. She was placed in ordinary from 10 March 1836 until recommissioned 7 May 1841 for local operations from Norfolk.

Delaware sailed 1 November 1841 for a tour of duty on the Brazil Station[?] as flagship for Commodore C. Morris[?]. She patrolled the coasts of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina to represent American interests during political unrest in those countries. On 19 February 1843 she sailed from Rio de Janeiro for another cruise in the Mediterranean. Delaware returned to Hampton Roads 4 March 1844 and was decommissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard on the 22nd. Still in ordinary there in 1861, she was burned 20 April along with other ships and the yard facilities to prevent their falling into Confederate hands.

Reference

• Howard Chapelle[?], The History of the American Sailing Navy: the Ships and their Development[?] (New York: Norton, 1949)

See USS Delaware for other Navy ships of the same name.

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.