Home > USS Cumberland (1842)

The first USS Cumberland was a 50-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy.

She was launched 24 May 1842 by Boston Navy Yard. Her first commanding officer was Captain S. L. Breese , and her first service was as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron from 1843 to 1845 where she had among her officers men like Foote and Dahlgren. She was flagship of the Home Squadron between February and December 1846, serving in the Gulf of Mexico during the Mexican-American War. Continuing to serve in the Home Squadron she returned to the United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in in July 18481848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). Events Sri Lanka The Revolution of 1848 (qv. a series of widespread but failed struggles for more liberal governments, from Brazil to Hungary. January 24 California gold rush: Jame.

Cumberland made her second cruise to the Mediterranean from 1849Events January 23 Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her MD by the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York, thus becoming the United States' first woman doctor January 31 Corn Laws abolished in the United Kingdom February 14 In New York City, James Knox Polk be to 1851Events January 23 The flip of a coin determines whether a new city in Oregon is named after Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine, with Portland winning. March 1 Victor Hugo gives speech at the French national assembly and uses the phrase United State, returning as flagship of the squadron there from 1852Events January 14 President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte proclaims a new constitution for the French Second Republic. January 17 United Kingdom recognizes independence of the Transvaal Devil's Island penal colony opens February 11 First British public toilet to 1855Events Births January 5 King Camp Gillette, inventor († 1932) January 21 John Moses Browning, inventor († 1926) January 28 William Seward Burroughs, inventor of the calculator († 1898) March 13 Percival Lowell, astronomer († 19. From 1857Events January 9 Earthquake at Fort Tejon, California with an estimated magnitude of 7. 9 February 16 The National Deaf Mute College (later renamed Gallaudet University) is established in Washington, DC becoming the first school for the advanced education to 1859 she cruised on the coast of Africa as flagship of the African Squadron patrolling for the suppression of the slave trade, then became flagship of the Home Squadron in 1860.

At the outbreak of the American Civil War Cumberland was at Norfolk Navy Yard, just returned from Veracruz, Mexico. She was towed out of the yard, escaping destruction when other ships there were scuttled and burned by Union forces 20 April 1861 to prevent their capture. She served as one of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until 8 March 1862 when she was rammed and sunk in an engagement with the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack) at Newport News, Virginia.

See USS Cumberland for other Navy ships of the same name.

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