USS Columbia (1836)

The first USS Columbia of the United States Navy was a three-masted, wooden-hulled sailing frigate of the US Navy, rated for 50 guns. She was built at Washington Navy Yard. Her keel was laid in 1825, but as was typical of much Navy construction during this period, she was not launched until much later, on 9 March 1836.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Columbia.

Columbia and John Adams bombarding Muckie, Sumatra, 1 January 1839
History
United States
Name: USS Columbia
Builder: Washington Navy Yard
Laid down: 1825
Launched: 9 March 1836
Maiden voyage: May 1838
Fate: Burned, 21 April 1861
General characteristics
Class and type: Raritan-class frigate
Tonnage: 1726
Length: 175 ft (53 m)
Beam: 45 ft (14 m)
Depth: 22 ft (6.7 m)
Propulsion: Sail
Complement: 480 officers and men
Armament: 4 × 8 in (200 mm) smoothbore guns, 28 × 32-pounder (15 kg) guns, 22 × 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades

On her first cruise, from May 1838 – June 1840 with Lieutenant George A. Magruder in command, Columbia rounded the Cape of Good Hope to become flagship of Commodore George C. Read in the East India Squadron. She returned to the United States by way of Cape Horn, becoming one of the first U.S. naval ships to circumnavigate the globe. She participated in the 1838 Second Sumatran Expedition in response to a Maylay attack on an American merchant vessel.

Columbia served as flagship of the Home Squadron from January–May 1842; cruised on Brazil Squadron from July 1842 – February 1844 and in the Mediterranean Squadron from May–December 1844. She returned to the Brazil Squadron as flagship from November 1845 – October 1847, and was placed in ordinary at Norfolk Navy Yard upon her return home. Except for a cruise as flagship of the Home Squadron from January 1853 – March 1855, she remained at Norfolk until the outbreak of the American Civil War. Columbia was scuttled and burned by Union forces to avoid her capture by Confederates upon the surrender of Norfolk Navy Yard on 21 April 1861. Following the close of the war she was raised and sold at Norfolk on 10 October 1867.

See also

References
  • Taylor, Fitch Waterman (1840). The Flag-ship: Or, A Voyage Around the World in the United States Frigate Columbia. Volume 2 of The Flag Ship, Or: A Voyage Around the World, in the United States Frigate Columbia, Attended by Her Consort the Sloop of War John Adams, and Bearing the Broad Pennant of Commodore George C. Read, Fitch Waterman Taylor. D. Appleton and Company.
  • Journal of the U.S.S. Columbia and U.S.S. Mississippi, 1843-1846 MS 272 held by Special Collection & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy
  • Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Columbia, 1844-1907 (bulk 1844) MS 77 held by Special Collection & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy

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