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H. Percy Ashley, Capt. , (1868–unknown)

America

c. 1936
38 in. x 50 1/2 in. (96.52 cm x 128.27 cm)

Medium and Support: Ship model

Credit Line: Museum purchase

Accession Number: 1936.S2

Current Location: On view : GC2

Commentary

America
Privateer in the War of 1812

Built at Salem in 1803
Length 108 ft.; Beam 30 ft.; Depth 11 ft.; Tonnage 331 tons

The America was built by Retiree Becket at his yard in Salem for George Crowninshield & Sons of Salem for the East India Trade. From 1804 to 1811 she made several profitable voyages to India, Java, and Arabia. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, her owners fitted her out as a private armed ship of war to prey upon English shipping. Her top deck was removed, she was armed with twenty guns, her masts and spars were lengthened to give her an enormous spread of sail, and her crew was increased from thirty-five to one hundred and fifty. She made five cruises during the war and captured and sent into American port twenty-seven British vessels, which, with their cargoes, were sold for $1,100,000. She was dismantled and broken up in Salem in 1831.

Adapted from Robert E. Peabody, "America" catalogue entry in ed. John Ratté, Models of American Sailing Ships, rev. ed. (Andover, MA: Addison Gallery of American Art, 1994), 40

Exhibition List

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

1/4" scale: Models of American Sailing Ships Addison Gallery of American Art , 9/25/1994 - 1/12/1995
Inside, Outside, Upstairs, Downstairs: The Addison Anew Addison Gallery of American Art , 9/7/2010 - 3/27/2011

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This object is a member of the following portfolios:

Exhibitions: Ship Models

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