January 15, 1815 - The frigate USS President (right) is captured by a blockading squadron off New York City. One of the original six frigates built for the US Navy, USS President (44 guns) entered service in August 1800. Participating in the Quasi-War and First Barbary War, the frigate was at the center of the 1811 Little Belt Affair with Britain. With the beginning of the War of 1812, President saw extensive service under Commodore John Rodgers. Through early 1814, the ship conducted several cruises to attack British commerce before being blockaded at New York. Taking command that December, Commodore Stephen Decatur sought to slip through the blockade on January 14, 1815. Departing port in a snow storm, President ran aground outside the harbor due to pilot error or a badly marked channel. Though badly damaged, the frigate was unable to return to New York due to unfavorable winds. Discovered by the blockading squadron the next day, President was able to best HMS Endymion (40) but the damage sustained in the grounding prevented it from escaping from HMS Tenedos (38) and HMS Pomone (44). As the two British ships attacked shortly before midnight, Decatur, recognizing the situation as hopeless, surrendered. Unknown to both sides, the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the conflict, had been signed weeks earlier.
Photograph Source: Public Domain
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