USS George Washington (1798)

History
United States
Cost$69,024
Launched1793
Acquired12 October 1798
FateSold, May 1802
General characteristics
Displacement624 or 654
Length108 ft (33 m) keel
Beam32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
Draught14 ft (4.3 m)
Complement220 officers and enlisted. Reduced to <100 for 2nd Algiers cruise.
Armament24x9-pdrs, 8x6-pdrs. Reduced to 15x9-pounders for 2nd Algiers cruise.

The first USS George Washington was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after United States Founding Father and President George Washington.

George Washington was built as a merchant vessel at Providence, R.I., in 1793; purchased by the Congress at Providence 12 October 1798 from John Brown and John Francis for $10,400 in cash and $30,000 in 6 percent navy stock, for use in the developing undeclared naval war (the so-called Quasi-War) with France, and converted to a warship under the supervision of Captain Silas Talbot with Captain Patrick Fletcher in command.