USS Essex (1799)

*Essex*
History
America
Name	USS Essex
Namesake	Essex County, Massachusetts
Builder	Enos Briggs, Salem, Massachusetts
Cost	$139,362
Laid down	1798
Launched	30 September 1799
Commissioned	17 December 1799
Captured	28 March 1814
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Essex
Acquired	28 March 1814
Fate	Sold at Public Auction, 6 June 1837
General characteristics
Type	Fifth-rate Frigate
Displacement	850 long tons (864 t)
Tons burthen	89722⁄94(bm)
Length	Overall: 138 ft 7 in (42.2 m); Keel:117 ft 2+7⁄8 in (35.7 m);
Beam	37 ft 3+1⁄2 in (11.4 m)
Draft	12 ft 3 in (3.7 m)
Depth of hold	11 ft 9 in (3.6 m)
Propulsion	Sail
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Speed	11.4 knots (21.1 km/h; 13.1 mph)
General characteristics American service
Complement	262 1 January, 1802
Armament	40 × 32-pounder carronades + 6 × 12-pounder guns
General characteristics British service
Complement	315 officers and enlisted
Armament	Upper deck: 26 × 18-pounder guns; QD: 12 × 32-pounder carronades; Fc: 2 × 9-pounder guns + 2 × 32-pounder carronades;
Service record
Commanders:	Edward Preble (1799–1801); William Bainbridge (1801–1802); James Barron (1804); John Smith (1809-1810); David Porter (1812–1814);
Operations:	Quasi-War; First Barbary War; Battle of Derne; War of 1812; USS Essex vs HMS Alert; Action off George Island; Battle of Valaparaiso;

The first USS Essex of the United States Navy was a 36-gun or 32-gun sailing frigate that participated in the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War, and in the War of 1812. The British captured her in 1814 and she then served as HMS Essex until sold at public auction on 6 June 1837.