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The first USS ''Argus'', originally named USS ''Merrimack'', was a brig in the United States Navy commissioned in 1803. She enforced the Embargo Act of 1807 and fought in the First Barbary War – taking part in the blockade of Tripoli and the capture of Derna – and the War of 1812. During the latter inflict, she had been audaciously raiding British merchant shipping in British home waters for a month, when the heavier British Cruizer-class brig-sloop intercepted her. After a sharp fight during which ''Argus''s captain, Master Commandant William Henry Allen, was mortally wounded, ''Argus'' surrendered when the crew of the ''Pelican'' were about to board. ==Construction and commissioning== The United States Congress authorized construction of the brig, originally named USS ''Merrimack'', the second U.S. Navy ship of that name, on 23 February 1803, and on 29 April 1803 the U.S. Navy contracted with the shipyard of Edmund Hartt at Boston, Massachusetts, to construct the ship. Edmund Hartts brother, Joseph Hartt, drafted the plans for the brig, designed with a flush deck and fine lines to optimize her for sailing conditions in the Mediterranean Sea. Captain Edward Preble was appointed superintendent of her construction, and her keel was laid down at Hartts yard on 12 May 1803.〔Cressman, p. 64.〕 On 14 May 1803, two days after ''Merrimack''s keel was laid, United States Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith assigned Preble to duty as commanding officer of the frigate , then at Boston, in addition to his duties related to ''Merrimack''s construction. Smith informed Preble on 21 May 1803 that Preble was to take command of the U.S. Navys Mediterranean Squadron, which was to include ''Constitution'' and ''Merrimack'', and on 27 May ordered Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr. to take command of ''Merrimack'' and supervise her construction to allow Preble to focus on preparing ''Constitution'' for Mediterranean service.〔 Smith found that U.S. Navy officers disliked the name ''Merrimack'' for the new brig, and he directed that she be renamed ''Argus'', the first U.S. Navy ship of that name, on 4 June 1803. Although work on her construction proceeded quickly at first, Decatur reported on 11 July 1803 soon after arriving to take command that her construction had fallen behind schedule, although her builders assured him that she would be launched before the end of July. Decatur recruited her crew and procured her armament from Providence, Rhode Island, but by the beginning of August 1803 heavy and persistent rains had delayed her launching by two weeks. Her launch day finally came on 20 August 1803, but the attempt to launch her failed when she did not move down the ways. After the ways degree of incline was increased, ''Argus'' was successfully launched on 21 August 1803. Labor problems during her fitting out then delayed her completion but, though no document recording the date of her commissioning has been found, she was in commission and ready for sea by early September 1803.〔 In service, ''Argus'' was reported to sail swiftly and easily, although prone to heavy pitching when lying to〔Cressman, p. 65.〕 (i.e., when her sails were arranged so as to counteract each other). On more than one occasion, observers described her as a remarkably handsome ship.〔Cressman, pp. 64, 65.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Argus (1803)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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