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'''USS ''United States'''''—one of six frigates authorized by Congress on 27 March 1794—was designed by naval architect Joshua Humphreys and Captain [[Thomas Truxtun]], was built at Philadelphia and launched there on 10 May 1797.  She was commissioned on 11 July, with Revolutionary War naval hero, Captain [[John Barry]] in command.

'''USS ''United States'''''—one of six frigates authorized by Congress on 27 March 1794—was designed by naval architect Joshua Humphreys and Captain [[Thomas Truxtun]], was built at Philadelphia and launched there on 10 May 1797.  She was commissioned on 11 July, with Revolutionary War naval hero, Captain [[John Barry]] in command.

''United States''—the first American warship to be launched under the naval provisions of the [[Constitution]] —entered the water four months before the launching of sister ship ''Constellation'' at Baltimore and five and one-half months before that of ''Constitution'' at Boston. She was fitted out at Philadelphia during the spring of 1798 and, on 3 July, was ordered to proceed to sea.

''United States''—the first American warship to be launched under the naval provisions of the [[Constitution]] —entered the water four months before the launching of sister ship ''Constellation'' at Baltimore and five and one-half months before that of ''Constitution'' at Boston. She was fitted out at Philadelphia during the spring of 1798 and, on 3 July, was ordered to proceed to sea.

Ten days later, the new frigate—in company with ''Delaware'', a former merchantship which had been acquired by the Government and fitted out for naval service—rounded Cape Henlopen and stood out to sea. The two ships quickly set a course for Boston where they were to add the newly purchased 20-gun ship ''Herald'' and the revenue cutter ''Pickering'' to their little fleet. During her voyage north, ''United States'' performed admirably, constantly pulling ahead of ''Delaware'' and exceeding Barry's most sanguine expectations. However, when he reached Boston, Barry learned that ''Herald'' and ''Pickering'' would not be ready to sail for several weeks. The commodore decided that the need for American naval power in the Caribbean was too great to permit him to wait for them, so ''United States'' and ''Delaware'' departed Nantasket Roads on 26 July and headed for [[Barbados]].

Ten days later, the new frigate—in company with ''Delaware'', a former merchantship which had been acquired by the Government and fitted out for naval service—rounded Cape Henlopen and stood out to sea. The two ships quickly set a course for Boston where they were to add the newly purchased 20-gun ship ''Herald'' and the revenue cutter ''Pickering'' to their little fleet. During her voyage north, ''United States'' performed admirably, constantly pulling ahead of ''Delaware'' and exceeding Barry's most sanguine expectations. However, when he reached Boston, Barry learned that ''Herald'' and ''Pickering'' would not be ready to sail for several weeks. The commodore decided that the need for American naval power in the Caribbean was too great to permit him to wait for them, so ''United States'' and ''Delaware'' departed Nantasket Roads on 26 July and headed for [[Barbados]].

''United States'' remained in the Potomac until 1809 when orders were given to ready her for active service. On 10 June 1810, the frigate—now under the command of Captain [[Steven Decatur]]-one of the midshipmen on her first cruise—sailed to Norfolk, Virgina for refitting. While she was at Norfolk, Captain John S. Garden, Royal Navy, of the new British frigate HMS ''Macedonian'', wagered Captain Decatur a beaver hat that his vessel would take ''United States'' if the two should ever meet in battle.

''United States'' remained in the Potomac until 1809 when orders were given to ready her for active service. On 10 June 1810, the frigate—now under the command of Captain [[Steven Decatur]]-one of the midshipmen on her first cruise—sailed to Norfolk, Virgina for refitting. While she was at Norfolk, Captain John S. Garden, Royal Navy, of the new British frigate HMS ''Macedonian'', wagered Captain Decatur a beaver hat that his vessel would take ''United States'' if the two should ever meet in battle.

The opportunity to settle the bet came sooner than either officer expected, as the United States declared war on [[Great Britain]] on 19 June 1812. ''United States'', the frigate ''Congress'', and the brig ''Argus'' joined Commodore John Rodgers' squadron at New York and put to sea immediately, cruising off the east coast until the end of August. The squadron again sailed on 8 October 1812, this time from Boston. Three days later, after capturing ''Mandarin'', ''United States'' parted company and continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on 25 October, five hundred miles south of the Azores, lookouts on board ''United States'' reported seeing a sail 12 miles to windward. As the ship rose over the horizon, Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines of ''Macedonian''.  

The opportunity to settle the bet came sooner than either officer expected, as the United States declared war on [[Great Britain]] on 19 June 1812. ''United States'', the frigate ''Congress'', and the brig ''Argus'' joined Commodore John Rodgers' squadron at New York and put to sea immediately, cruising off the east coast until the end of August. The squadron again sailed on 8 October 1812, this time from Boston. Three days later, after capturing ''Mandarin'', ''United States'' parted company and continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on 25 October, five hundred miles south of the Azores, lookouts on board ''United States'' reported seeing a sail 12 miles to windward. As the ship rose over the horizon, Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines of ''Macedonian''.  

After repairs, ''United States''—accompanied by ''Macedonian'' and the sloop ''Hornet''—sailed from New York on 24 May 1813. On 1 June, the three vessels were driven into New London, Connecticut, by a powerful British squadron, and ''United States'' and ''Macedonian'' were kept blocked there until the end of the war. However, Decatur was transferred to the frigate ''President'' in the spring of 1814, and he took the officers and crew of ''United States'' with him to his new command. ''Hornet'' managed to slip through the blockade on 14 November 1814 and escaped to sea.

After repairs, ''United States''—accompanied by ''Macedonian'' and the sloop ''Hornet''—sailed from New York on 24 May 1813. On 1 June, the three vessels were driven into New London, Connecticut, by a powerful British squadron, and ''United States'' and ''Macedonian'' were kept blocked there until the end of the war. However, Decatur was transferred to the frigate ''President'' in the spring of 1814, and he took the officers and crew of ''United States'' with him to his new command. ''Hornet'' managed to slip through the blockade on 14 November 1814 and escaped to sea.

After the end of the War of 1812, the American government turned its attention back to the Mediterranean where Algiers had resumed preying upon American shipping while the United States was preoccupied by its recently concluded war with Great Britain. On 23 February 1815, President Madison requested that Congress declare war on Algiers; and it voted favorably on his recommendation on 2 March.

After the end of the War of 1812, the American government turned its attention back to the Mediterranean where Algiers had resumed preying upon American shipping while the United States was preoccupied by its recently concluded war with Great Britain. On 23 February 1815, President Madison requested that Congress declare war on Algiers; and it voted favorably on his recommendation on 2 March.

The vessel returned to the ''United States'' in 1844 and was placed out of commission at Boston on 14 October. She was recommissioned there on 18 May 1846 and was detailed to the African Squadron for duty helping to suppress the illicit slave trade. ''United States'' joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1847 and served in European waters until ordered home late in 1848. She was decommissioned on 24 February 1849 and placed in ordinary at Norfolk.

The vessel returned to the ''United States'' in 1844 and was placed out of commission at Boston on 14 October. She was recommissioned there on 18 May 1846 and was detailed to the African Squadron for duty helping to suppress the illicit slave trade. ''United States'' joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1847 and served in European waters until ordered home late in 1848. She was decommissioned on 24 February 1849 and placed in ordinary at Norfolk.

''United States'' rotted away at Norfolk until 20 April 1861 when the navy yard was captured by Confederate troops. Before leaving the yard, Union fire crews failed to burn the vessel along with other abandoned ships, thinking it unnecessary to destroy the decayed relic. The Confederates, pressed for vessels in any kind of condition, thought otherwise and, after pumping her out, commissioned the frigate CSS ''United States'', often called ''Confederate States'', on 29 April. On 15 June, she was ordered to be fitted out as a receiving ship and was provided with a deck battery of 19 guns for harbor defense.

''United States'' rotted away at Norfolk until 20 April 1861 when the navy yard was captured by Confederate troops. Before leaving the yard, Union fire crews failed to burn the vessel along with other abandoned ships, thinking it unnecessary to destroy the decayed relic. The Confederates, pressed for vessels in any kind of condition, thought otherwise and, after pumping her out, commissioned the frigate CSS ''United States'', often called ''Confederate States'', on 29 April. On 15 June, she was ordered to be fitted out as a receiving ship and was provided with a deck battery of 19 guns for harbor defense.

Shortly after the destruction of ironclad ram ''Virginia'' on 11 May 1862 and the surrender of the Norfolk Navy Yard to Union troops, ''United States'' was raised and towed to the yard by federal authorities. She remained there until March 1864, when the Bureau of Construction and Repair decided to break her up and sell the wood. This work was delayed until late 1865, when the Bureau ordered on 18 December that the gallant old frigate be docked at Norfolk and immediately broken up.

Shortly after the destruction of ironclad ram ''Virginia'' on 11 May 1862 and the surrender of the Norfolk Navy Yard to Union troops, ''United States'' was raised and towed to the yard by federal authorities. She remained there until March 1864, when the Bureau of Construction and Repair decided to break her up and sell the wood. This work was delayed until late 1865, when the Bureau ordered on 18 December that the gallant old frigate be docked at Norfolk and immediately broken up.