{{Short description|American schooner}} {{more footnotes needed|date=June 2010}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= USS Pickering 1798.jpg |image_caption=USRC ''Pickering'', later renamed USS ''Pickering'' }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United States |flag= {{USN flag|1800}} |name= USS ''Pickering'' |namesake= |original_cost= $32,126 |builder= |laid_down= 1798 |launched= |acquired= |commissioned= 22 August 1798 |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |fate= Lost 1800 |notes= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type=Topsail schooner |displacement= {{convert|187|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} |length= {{convert|77|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam= {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} |draft= {{convert|9|ft|m|abbr=on}} |hold_depth= |propulsion=Sails |sail_plan= |speed= |complement=70 officers and enlisted or 90.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v07.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France |volume=VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801 |pages=367 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref> |armament=14 × 4-pounder guns |notes= }} }}
'''USS ''Pickering''''' was the first brig built for the United States Revenue Cutter Service which later served with the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://media.defense.gov/2017/Jul/02/2001772348/-1/-1/0/USRCS1789-1849.PDF |title=Early history of the U. S. Revenue Marine Service or (U.S. Revenue Cutter Service) 1798 to 1854 page 19 |publisher=R. L. Polk printing via Media.defense.gov |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref> She was named for Timothy Pickering, then the Secretary of State.
USRC ''Pickering'' was built at Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1798 for the Revenue Cutter Service. Captain Jonathan Chapman was her first commander. Taken into the Navy in July at the outbreak of the Quasi-War, she departed Boston on her first cruise on 22 August.
==Service history== In 1799 and early 1800, she was part of Commodore Barry's squadron in the West Indies. Lieutenant Edward Preble commanded ''Pickering'' from January through June 1799, when he was promoted to captain and took command of the frigate {{USS|Essex|1799|2}}.
On 21 April 1799 she exchanged fire with Fort Dup Vieux and Fort Royall, Guadeloupe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v03p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, April, 1799 Pg. 83 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=4 April 2024}}</ref> On 29 April 1799 she and USS George Washington recaptured American brig "Fair American" captured by 3 French letters of marque the previous day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v03p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, April, 1799 Pg. 108 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=5 April 2024}}</ref> On 1 May 1799 she, and USS George Washington recaptured American brig "Francis", captured by a French privateer. "Francis" was Captained by Joshua Preble, Lieutenant Edward Preble's brother.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v03p02.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, May, 1799 Pg. 116-117 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=5 April 2024}}</ref> ''Pickering'' was permanently transferred to the Navy on 20 May and re-designated USS ''Pickering''. She arrived at New York 12–13 June 1799 from her deployment to the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v03p02.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, May, 1799 Pg. 339 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=16 April 2024}}</ref> Master Commandant Benjamin Hillar,<ref>''Naval documents related to the quasi-war between the United States and France : Naval operations from February 1797-December 1801'', by United States Office of Naval Records and Library, edited by Knox, Dudley W., 7 vols., 1935-1938. https://opac.navalmarinearchive.com/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=41720</ref> U.S. Navy, assumed command in June, and continued command of the ship for its final years. She, USS Ganges, and USS Merrimack recaptured American merchant schooner "John" on 15 August 1799.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v03p04.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 2 Part 4 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799 July Pg. 473 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=25 April 2024}}</ref> On 16 September 1799 she captured (recaptured?) schooner Atalanta, condemned by prize court and sold in August, 1800.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v04p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 1 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799 August to September Pg. 195 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=21 May 2024}}</ref> ''Pickering'' fought a notable engagement with the French privateer ''L'Egypte Conquise'' on 18 October 1799. The Frenchman was well fitted out and manned and should have been able to capture ''Pickering''. While the French ship carried fourteen 9-pounders, four 6-pounders, and crew of 250, the American cutter had only fourteen 4-pounders and seventy men. After a nine-hour battle, however, the French ship was forced to surrender. A few days earlier she had a running battle with a French lugger that escaped due to springing of the Pickering's masts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v04p02.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799, October to November Pg. 295 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=23 May 2024}}</ref> Sometime in October she and USS Delaware recaptured brig "Henrich".<ref name=GPO563>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 563 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=19 July 2024}}</ref> On 27 December 1799 she captured a French privateer, possibly "Voltiguese".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v04p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799, December Pg. 571 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=4 June 2024}}</ref><ref name=GPO563 /> ''Pickering'' continued to cruise in the West Indies, and before her return to the United States had captured four French privateers, including ''Atalanta'', ''L'Active''(sometime before 24 April),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 443 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=15 July 2024}}</ref> and ''Fly'',. Between 2 August to 31 December 1799 she recaptured schooner "Cynthia", Unknown English sloop, French schooner "Helen", recaptured Danish brig "Helen", recaptured brig "Brothers" sometime in November,<ref name=GPO563 /> recaptured schooner "Harriet" in January, 1800.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v04p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799, December Pg. 589 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=5 June 2024}}</ref><ref name=GPO563 /> On 2 February 1800 she recaptured armed merchant ship "Portland" in the Sale Rock Passage, she had been captured by a privateer on 25 January ({{coord|21|50|N|59|30|W}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, Front Matter January Pg. 132-133 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=7 June 2024}}</ref> In April she recaptured brigs "Mary" and "Eliza", and captured an unknown schooner.<ref name=GPO563 /> She arrived in Boston on 17 May 1800.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 528 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=17 July 2024}}</ref> She departed Boston 10 June to patrol between Bermuda and Cape Hatteras.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v06.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 6 Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations June to November, 1800, June 1800 Pg. 59 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=25 July 2024}}</ref>
She returned to New Castle, Delaware on 21 July.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v06.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France |volume=VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July–August 1800 |pages=179 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> Ordered to join Commodore Thomas Truxton's squadron on the Guadeloupe Station in the West Indies, she sailed from New Castle, Delaware on 20 August, and was never heard from again. She is presumed to have been lost with all hands in a gale later in August.<ref>Grocott 1997, p.97</ref> This storm is also thought to have sunk {{USS|Insurgent}}, which likewise vanished without a trace.
==References== {{Reflist}} {{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/pickering.html}}
==Bibliography== * {{Cite book|last=Grocott|first=Terence|year=1997|title=Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras|publisher=Chatham|isbn=1-86176-030-2}}
{{1800 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickering}} Category:Ships of the United States Revenue Cutter Service Category:Cutters of the United States Navy Category:Quasi-War ships of the United States Category:Missing ships Category:Ships built in Newburyport, Massachusetts Category:1798 ships Category:Maritime incidents in 1800 Category:Ships lost with all hands Category:Shipwrecks