On a summer day, August 13, 1812, the American Frigate ESSEX struck the first victory in the war that would alter the British dominance of the world's oceans in favor of the America Navy. His Majesty's Sloop ALERT spotted the frigate, and with three cheers sailed windward to battle in the Atlantic Ocean. After eight minutes of accurate and devastating cannon fire by the Americans, ALERT struck here colors and surrendered to Captain David Porter.
ESSEX would capture 9 more prizes within the month, including a British ship with more than $50,000 in gold bullion, and failing to meet up with CONSTITUTION and others at a planned rendevous, Captain Porter took his vessel and crew onward to attack British whaling in the South Pacific. It proved a successful and fateful campaign through with 13 prizes until the capture of the ESSEX on March 29, 1814 by H.M.S. PHOEBE and CHERUB at Valparaiso.
Captain Porter wasn't alone in command of the ESSEX. After launching out of Salem by Egos Briggs in 1799, sponsored by the people of Salem and Essex County, her first commander was Captain Edward Pebble in the Quasi-War with France and the Barbary War, the first U.S. Naval vessel to cross the equator. Captain William Bainbridge followed, and Porter's adopted son, David Farragut, was a 12-year old midshipman on ESSEX in Valparaiso. Admiral Farragut would go on to lead the North's efforts in the naval actions of the American Civil War.Provenance: Private Minnesota Collection.
