USS George Washington (1798)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
|
| Cost: | $69,024 |
| Launched: | 1793 |
| Acquired: | 12 October 1798 |
| Fate: | sold, May 1802 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 624 |
| Length: | 108 ft (33 m) keel |
| Beam: | 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m) |
| Draught: | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Complement: | 220 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
24x9-pdrs 8x6-pdrs |
24x9-pdrs
The first USS George Washington was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after President George Washington.
George Washington was built as a merchant vessel at Providence, R.I., in 1793; purchased by the Congress at Providence 12 October 1798 from John Brown and John Francis for $10,400 in cash and $30,000 in 6 percent navy stock, for use in the developing undeclared naval war (the so-called Quasi-War) with France, and converted to a warship under the supervision of Captain Silas Talbot with Captain Patrick Fletcher in command.
George Washington proceeded in early December to Dominica, in the West Indies, to join Commodore John Barry's squadron for the protection of American commercial against the many French privateer's preying on US shipping and commerce. She rendezvoused with Barry in the USS United States and the USS Constitution at sea 29 December and arrived Dominica next day. For the next few months, she convoyed AAmericas in the West Indies, sailing from St. Christopher's Island to Tobago. During this time, with revenue cutter Pickering, she recaptured two American ships from the French: the brig Fair American 29 April 1799, and the schooner Francis on 1 May 1799.
She departed the Caribbean in mid-1799, arriving Newport, Rhode Island, 12 June 1799, and after a short stay sailed again 2 July. On this cruise, she searched the coast for French privateers as far south as Charleston, S.C., and then took station off Santo Domingo protecting American commerce. The George Washington returned to the United States, in October 1799, for extensive repairs.
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