USS North Carolina (1820)

The first USS North Carolina was a 74-gun ship of the line.

One of the "nine ships to rate not less than 74 guns each" authorized by Congress 29 April 1816, she was laid down in 1818 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, launched 7 September 1820, and fitted out in the Norfolk Navy Yard. Master Commandant Charles W. Morgan was assigned to North Carolina as her first commanding officer 24 June 1824.

While nominally a 74-gun ship, a popular size at the time, North Carolina was actually pierced (had gunports for) 102 guns, and probably originally mounted 94 42-pounder and 32-pounder cannons. In 1845 she had 56 42-pounders, 26 32-pounders, and 8 8-inch cannons, for a total of 90.

Considered by many the most powerful naval vessel then afloat, North Carolina served in the Mediterranean as flagship for Commodore John Rodgers from 29 April 1825 until 18 May 1827. In the early days of the Republic, as today, a display of naval might brought a nation prestige and enhanced her commerce. Such was the case as Rodgers' squadron which laid the groundwork for the 1830 commercial treaty with Turkey opening ports of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea to American traders.

After a period in ordinary at Norfolk, North Carolina decommissioned 30 October 1836 to fit out for the Pacific Station, the one other area where ships of her vast size could be employed. Only the Mediterranean and the western coast of South America at that time offered ports which could accommodate ships of great draft. Again flagship of her station, flying the pennant of Commodore Henry E. Ballard, North Carolina reached Callao, Peru 26 May 1837. With war raging between Chile and Peru, and relations between the United States and Mexico strained, North Carolina protected the important American commerce of the eastern Pacific until March 1839. Since her great size made her less flexible than smaller ships, she returned to the New York Navy Yard in June, and served as a receiving ship until placed in ordinary in 1866. She was sold at New York 1 October 1867.

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.