Career
Ordered:	18 November 1841
Laid down:	20 October 1842
Launched:	5 September 1843
Commissioned:	9 September 1843
Decommissioned:	31 January 1847
Fate:	broken up, 1849
Struck:
General Characteristics
Displacement:	954 tons
Length:	164 ft
Beam:	30 ft 6 in
Draft:	17 ft
Propulsion:	Sail and steam
Speed:	7 kts
Range:
Complement:	166 officers and enlisted
Armament:	2 12" Sg., 12 42-pdr. car.

The first Princeton was the first screw steam warship in the United States Navy. An accident onboard her in 1844 killed Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer and others. Image File history File links USS_Princeton_(1843). ... The source for an SVG image of the United States Navy jack can be found at USN Jack. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... take you to calendar). ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Paddle steamers - Lucerne-Switzerland Left: original paddlewheel from a paddle steamer on the lake of Lucerne. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations around the globe. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. ... Abel Parker Upshur (June 17, 1790–February 28, 1844) was a American statesman. ... Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy. ... Thomas Walker Gilmer (April 6, 1802–February 28, 1844) was an American statesman. ...

Princeton was laid down 20 October 1842 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard as a 700-ton corvette. The designer of the ship and main supervisor of construction was the Swedish inventor John Ericsson, who later designed the USS Monitor,. The construction was partly supervised by Captain Robert F. Stockton who had secured the political support for the construction of the ship. The ship was launched on 5 September 1843; and ordered commissioned 9 September 1843, Capt. Robert F. Stockton in command. October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. ... Illustration of John Ericsson John Ericsson (July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother, Nils Ericson. ... USS Monitor was an ironclad warship of the United States Navy. ... Robert Field Stockton (20 August 1795–7 October 1866) was a United States naval officer, notable in the capture of California during the Mexican-American War. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Her two vibrating lever engines were built by Merrick & Towne, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and designed by John Ericsson. The latter burned hard coal and drove a six-bladed screw 14 feet (4.3 meters) in diameter. The engine was small enough to be below waterline. Ericsson also designed a collapsable funnel, an improved range-finder, and improved recoil systems for the main guns. Nickname: City of Brotherly Love Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Official website: http://www. ... Illustration of John Ericsson John Ericsson (July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother, Nils Ericson. ... Anthracite coal Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster. ...

Princeton made a trial trip in the Delaware River 12 October 1843. She departed Philadelphia 17 October for a sea trial, proceeded to New York where she engaged in a speed contest with the British steamer SS Great Western and returned to Philadelphia 20 October to finish outfitting. On November 22 Captain Stockton reported "Princeton will be ready for sea in a week"; 28 November he dressed ship and received visitors on board for inspection. On 30 November she towed Raritan down the Delaware and later returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Princeton sailed 1 January 1844 for New York where she received her two big guns named Peacemaker and Oregon. Delaware River Watershed The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Philadelphia is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... October 17 is the 290th (in leap years the 291st) day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... The steamship SS Great Western (named for the Great Western Railway Company) was the first steamship purposely built for the Atlantic crossing. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... At least three United States Navy ships have been named USS Raritan, after the Raritan River in New Jersey. ... The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The “Oregon”, originally name "The Orator", was a 12-inch smooth bore muzzle loader (ML) made out of wrought iron capable of firing a 225 pound shot 5 miles using a 50 pound charge. It was designed by Ericsson and manufactured in England at the Mersey Iron Works and shipped to the U.S. in 1841. The design was revolutionary in that it used the "built-up construction" which pre-tensioned the gun and greatly increased the charge the breech could withstand. Smoothbore refers to a firearm which does not have a rifled barrel. ... A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the bullet is loaded from the muzzle of the gun. ... A wrought iron railing in Troy, New York. ... take you to calendar). ... Compressive stress is the stress applied to materials resulting in their compaction (decrease of volume). ... Breech may refer to: A breech birth The part of a firearm behind the barrel. ...

The "Peacemaker" was another 12-inch ML made by Hogg and Delamater, New York, New York under the direction of Capt. Stockton. Not understanding the importance of hoop construction, it was instead heavily reinforced at the breech, weighing more than 27,000 pounds. This produced a gun that had the typical weakness of a wrought iron gun, the welds were unable to withstand the transverse forces of the charge. This meant it was almost certain to burst at some point. Stockton only allowed for a few test charges before putting it aboard the Princeton.

Princeton was sent to Washington, D.C. in late January 1844, arriving 13 February. Washingtonians displayed great interest in the ship and her guns. She made trial trips with passengers on board down the Potomac River February 16, 18 and 20, during which the Peacemaker was fired several times. Nickname: the District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Official website: http://www. ... February 13 is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Potomac River at Great Falls, MD from Olmsted Island, water relatively low The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

On February 28, she departed Alexandria, Virginia on a pleasure and trial trip down the Potomac with President John Tyler, his Cabinet and approximately two hundred guests on board. Against the better judgement of Captain Stockton, the Secretary of the Navy, desiring to please the distinguished company, allowed the Peacemaker to be fired. The gun burst, killing Secretary Upshur; Secretary Gilmer; Captain Beverly Kennon, Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repairs; Virgil Maxey of Maryland, Charge d'Affaires to Belgium, 1837–42; David Gardiner of New York, the father of Julia Gardiner who later married President Tyler; and the Presidents valet, a black slave named Arimstead (Armistead ?). It also injured about 20 people, including Captain Stockton. A Court of Inquiry exonerated Capt. Stockton due to his political influence (he supported Tyler’s campaign), blaming the explosion on Ericsson (despite the fact Ericsson did not design the gun), and “bad luck”. February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the west, as seen from the observation deck of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. ... The presidential seal was used by president Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the tenth (1841-1845) President of the United States. ... A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Official language(s) None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 145 km 400 km 21 37°53N to 39°43N 75°4W to 79°33W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165... White House portrait Julia Gardiner Tyler (July 23, 1820 – July 10, 1889), second wife of John Tyler, was First Lady of the United States from June 26, 1844 to March 4, 1845. ...

Princeton was employed with the Home Squadron from 1845 to 1847. She later served in the Mediterranean from 17 August 1847 to 24 June 1849. Upon her return from Europe she was surveyed and condemned to be broken up at the Boston Navy Yard 17 July 1849. The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid 1800s. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... World map showing Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... The Boston Navy Yard, originally Charlestown Navy Yard and after 1945 Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities of the United States Navy. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

During construction and in the years following Stockton attempted to claim complete credit for the design and construction of the Princeton. Although it is true he was a strong advocate of the ship and certainly helped bring it into existence, the engineering genius was all Ericsson's. As a result of his shameful treatment Ericsson developed a long-lasting hatred of the Navy.

Contemporary lithograph depicting the explosion

Image File history File links Explosion_aboard_USS_Princeton. ... Image File history File links Explosion_aboard_USS_Princeton. ...

See also

• USS Princeton for other ships of this name.

Six United States Navy ships have borne the name Princeton, after the town of Princeton, New Jersey, site of an American victory in the Revolution. ...

Books

"The United States Navy: A 200-Year History", Edward L. Beach. pp 196-221. Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright 1986.

Source

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.