USS Congress (1777)

USS Congress was a 28-gun frigate of the Continental Navy that was scheduled to participate in the American Revolutionary War against the British. However, while being outfitted prior to her first sailing, the British approached and the Americans set her afire in order to prevent her capture.

History
United States
Ordered1775
BuilderLancaster Burling
Out of service1777
Fateburned to prevent capture by the British in 1777
General characteristics
Type28-gun frigate
Length126 ft (38 m) (between perpendiculars)
Beam34 ft 10 in (10.62 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Propulsionsail
Armament
  • 26 x 12-pounders guns
  • 2 x 6-pounders guns
For other ships with the same name, see USS Congress.

Service history

Congress was a sailing frigate built by Lancaster Burling at Poughkeepsie, New York, under authority of an act of the Second Continental Congress, dated 13 December 1775. One of the first 13 ships authorized to be built by the new government, she was placed under the command of Captain Grenell in the summer of 1776. Before her outfitting was completed, the British occupied the approaches to the Hudson River and extended their control of the environs throughout 1777. The infant Continental Navy suffered the destruction of Congress in October 1777 to prevent her seizure by the enemy.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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