Five ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Lexington, after Lexington, Massachusetts, where the colonial militia first fought back against the British in "the shot heard 'round the world".
The first Lexington was a 14-gun brigantine originally named Wild Duck purchased in 1776 and used by the Continental Navy until her capture in 1777.
The second Lexington was a 24-gun sloop commissioned in 1826 and sold in 1860.
The third Lexington was a sidewheel steamer converted to a gunboat and used in the American Civil War.
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Lexington sailed next day to raid Japanese forces on Jaluit to relieve pressure on Wake Island; these orders were canceled 20 December, and she was directed to cover the Saratoga force in reinforcing Wake.
Lexington and her sister Saratoga were turboelectric drive ships with steam turbines spinning generators that powered the slower speed main drive motors.