Existing comment:
The Establishment of the United States Navy:
Responding to attacks on American shipping by Barbary pirates, Congress in 1794 voted to construct six frigates -- the 44-gun United States, Constitution, and President and the 36-gun Constellation, Congress, and Chesapeake. When a treaty was signed with Algeria in 1796, ending at least temporarily harassment of American shipping, construction was suspended. The next year, however, disputes with France over the seizure of American commerce led to a major expansion of the Navy and to the establishment on 30 April 1798 of the Department of the Navy headed by Benjamin Stoddert. At Stoddert's request, Congress appropriated funds to build six 74-gun ships of the line and a number of smaller vessels. Stoddert used some of the funds to acquire Government shipyards. The Washington Navy Yard, initially commanded by Captain Thomas Tingey, was the first Yard established to build the new ships. |