View source for USS Shark (1821)

{{Short description|Former schooner in the United States Navy}}{{other ships|USS Shark}}
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1821}}
|Ship name=USS ''Shark''
|Ship namesake=[[Shark]]
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|Ship builder=[[Washington Navy Yard]]
|Ship original cost=$23,627.00 USD in 1821
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|Ship launched=17 May 1821
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|Ship fate=wrecked 1846
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The '''USS ''Shark''''' was a [[schooner]] in the [[United States Navy]] from 1821 until it sank crossing the [[Columbia Bar]] in 1846.

==Construction==
The ''Shark'' was built in the [[Washington Navy Yard]] to the designs of [[Henry Steers]]. It was designed for combating [[Piracy in the Caribbean|Caribbean piracy]]. The vessel had an "inclination to lower its bow and dive under when pressed by the wind under full sail."{{Sfn|Shine|2008|p=538}} On 11 May 1821, [[Matthew Perry (naval officer)|Matthew C. Perry]] was ordered to take command of ''Shark''. She was launched on 17 May and the ship was ready to receive her crew on 2 June 1821.

==Atlantic anti-slavery activities==
The ''Shark'' sailed from the Washington Navy Yard on 15 July for [[New York, New York|New York]]. While there, she received Dr. [[Eli Ayers]], on board for transportation to the west coast of [[Africa]]. On 7 August the ''Shark'' began her first cruise, with the goals of the suppression of the [[History of slavery|slave trade]] and [[piracy]]. Sailing by way of the [[Madeira]], [[Canary Islands|Canary]], and [[Cape Verde islands]], she landed Dr. Ayers at [[Sierra Leone]] in October. The ''Shark'' returned by way of the [[West Indies]] to New York, arriving on 17 January 1822.

The ''Shark'' put to sea from New York on 26 February and joined Commodore [[James Biddle (commodore)|James Biddle]]'s squadron for the suppression of piracy and slave trading in the West Indies. On 25 March, Lt. Perry took formal possession of what is now [[Key West, Florida]], in the name of the United States. He called the island Thompson's Island to honor [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[Smith Thompson]] and named the harbor Port Rodgers to compliment Commodore [[John Rodgers (naval officer, War of 1812)|John Rodgers]].

Under orders from Commodore Biddle, the ''Shark'' departed [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]] on 14 August for another cruise to the western coast of Africa. On 12 December 1822 she returned to [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. The ''Shark'' again sailed for the West Indies in February 1823. She was back at New York in early July for repairs. On 5 October, she sailed from New York carrying Commodore John Rodgers and three Navy surgeons to Key West to determine the suitability of the location as a naval base. She debarked Rodgers and his party at Norfolk on 16 November 1823 before resuming her cruise in the West Indies. She returned to New York on 13 May 1824.

After repairs in the [[New York Navy Yard]], the ''Shark'' sailed on 5 October 1825. She cruised in the West Indies and the [[Gulf of Mexico]] until 29 August 1826, when she arrived at Norfolk. On 28 November she proceeded to the coast of Africa to protect slaves freed from captured [[slave ship]]s. After seeing that the liberated slaves were safely established in [[Liberia]], she returned by way of the [[Caribbean]] and arrived at New York on 5 July 1827.

The busy schooner sailed again on 24 July for a cruise to the [[Colony of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] fisheries to defend American interests there and returned on 6 October. She then resumed her duty in the West Indies, which included anti-slavery and anti-piracy patrols and periodic voyages to West Africa to check the American settlements there.

==Mediterranean==
In 1833, the ''Shark'' was relieved in the West Indies by the schooner [[USS Experiment (1832)|''Experiment'']], and sailed for the [[Mediterranean]], where she remained for the next five years, cruising extensively in order to protect American commerce. She cleared Gibraltar for the United States on 22 January 1838 and sailing by way of the West Indies, arrived at the [[Norfolk Navy Yard]] on 24 March.

==Pacific Squadron==
The ''Shark'' put to sea from Hampton Roads on 22 July 1839 for duty with the [[Pacific Squadron]]. She was the first United States man-of-war to pass through the [[Straits of Magellan]] from east to west, a feat accomplished on 13 December 1839 en route to [[Callao, Peru]]. During the next five years, she spent much of her time along the coast of [[Peru]] to protect American citizens and property during civil disturbances in that country. The Secretary of the Navy noted in 1841 that "all who witnessed the operations of the ''Shark'' were inspired with increased respect for the American flag." She also made infrequent cruises northward to observe conditions in [[Panama]] and to receive mail.

On 1 April 1846, ''Shark'' was ordered to [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] for repairs in preparation for an exploratory voyage up the [[Columbia River]], "to obtain correct information of that country and to cheer our citizens in that region by the presence of the American flag."

On 12 July 1846 the ''Shark'' reached the mouth of the Columbia River. In the afternoon [[Henry H. Spalding]], [[Asa Lovejoy]], and [[William H. Gray (Oregon politician)|William H. Gray]] arrived on a small boat. While there wasn't a regular pilot for the Columbia, they recommended employing [[James D. Saules]] to reach [[Fort Astoria|Fort George]]. He was likely most familiar with [[Scow|scows]], the most commonly used vessels on the Columbia by fur traders and settlers.{{Sfn|Tetlow|1975}} Saules "was also facing one of the world's most difficult rivers to navigate..."{{Sfn|Coleman|2017|p=133}} Commanding officer [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] Neil M. Howison described the subsequent events:{{Blockquote|text="[Saules] ordered the helm put up, head sheets aft, and yards braced, with an air that deceived me into the belief that he was fully competent to conduct the vessel, and he was put in charge of her. In twenty minutes he ran us hard ashore on Chinook shoal, where we remained several hours thumping severely."{{Sfn|Howison|1913|p=5}}}}

After the ''USS Shark'' freed itself from the shoal it awaited Alexander Lattie, the officer in charge of Fort George. The following morning Lattie succeeded in guiding the vessel to his [[Fur trade|fur trading]] post. Lattie was dismissed by the Hudson's Bay Company later that year.{{Sfn|Shine|2008|p=555}}

==Sinking==
After several weeks in the vicinity of [[Fort Vancouver]], the vessel returned to the mouth of the Columbia on 8 September. As it was known that the Columbia bar had changed position since the last survey was made by [[Charles Wilkes]], the following day was spent making new observations and other preparations for crossing. Unable to secure another pilot, on 10 September the ''Shark'' attempted to exit the Columbia River. Unfortunately, the ship hit another uncharted shoal, was swept into the breakers by a swift tide, and sank.{{Sfn|Howison|1913|pp=9-10}} Saules likely witnessed the event, although his reaction isn't preserved in historical documentation.{{Sfn|Coleman|2017|pp=131-132}}

===Aftermath===
The ''Shark'' was a total loss, but her entire crew was saved. Upon learning of the vessel's demise, the Royal Navy and [[Hudson's Bay Company]]'s officers at Fort Vancouver immediately coordinated and dispatched a relief effort, including food, tobacco, and clothing. Lt. Howison soon returned to Fort Vancouver, where he acquired additional supplies and on 16 November chartered the Hudson's Bay Company schooner {{ship||Cadboro|1824 schooner|2}}. She reached [[San Francisco, California]] on 27 January 1847.

A court of inquiry absolved Lt. Neil M. Howison of all blame for the loss of his ship.

==Artifacts==
Several artifacts associated with the wrecked schooner are on public display in Oregon. The schooner's [[Capstan (nautical)|capstan]] and one [[carronade]] are on display at the Cannon Beach History Center in [[Cannon Beach, Oregon]]. The carronade was discovered four or five miles north of Arch Cape in 1898, and is what gave Cannon Beach its name. On 16 February 2008, two more carronades believed to have belonged to ''Shark'' were discovered on the beach near [[Arch Cape, Oregon]].{{Sfn|Crombie|2008}}

The newly discovered carronades were restored at the [[Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation (CMAC)|Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation]] at [[Texas A&M University]] and are now on display at the [[Columbia River Maritime Museum]] in [[Astoria, Oregon]]. The Maritime Museum exhibit also features an officer's sword that is believed to have originated on ''Shark'', along with a large rock known as "Shark Rock" that features words and dates believed to be etched on by survivors of the wreck.{{Sfn|Tobias|2014}}

==Bibliography==
* {{DANFS}}

===Articles===
* {{Cite journal |title=Report of Lieutenant Neil M. Howison on Oregon, 1846: A Reprint |journal=[[The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society]] |last=Howison |first=Neil |date=Mar 1913 |location=Portland, OR |publisher=[[Oregon Historical Society]] |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=1-66 |via=[[JSTOR]] |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20609921}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Shine |first=Gregory Paynter |date=2008 |title="A Gallant Little Schooner": The U.S. Schooner Shark and the Oregon Country, 1846 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20615903 |journal=[[Oregon Historical Quarterly]] |location=Portland, OR |publisher=[[Oregon Historical Society]] |volume=109 |issue=4 |pages=536–565 |issn=0030-4727}}

===Books===
* {{Cite book |last=Coleman |first=Kenneth R. |title=Dangerous Subjects |publisher=[[Oregon State University Press]] |year=2017 |isbn=9780870719042 |location=Corvallis, OR}}

===Newspapers===
* {{Cite web |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/_the_discovery_of_a.html |url-status=live |title=Pair of cannons found on Oregon Coast could be from 1846 ship |last=Crombie |first=Noelle |date=2008-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116105812/https://www.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/_the_discovery_of_a.html |archive-date=2022-01-16 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=[[OregonLive.com]] |publisher=[[The Oregonian]]}}
* {{Cite news |last=Tetlow |first=Roger T. |date=1975-03-12 |title=Black Saul Details |work=[[The Daily Astorian]] |location=Astoria, OR}}
* {{Cite web |last1=Tobias |first1=Lori |date=2014-05-16 |title=Cannons from USS Shark come back home to Oregon's coast |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/05/cannon_beach_cannons_come_back.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115015242/http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/05/cannon_beach_cannons_come_back.html |archive-date=2017-11-15 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=[[OregonLive.com]] |publisher=[[The Oregonian]]}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nps.gov/fova/historyculture/historical-studies.htm Sympathy & Prompt Attentions: Fort Vancouver's Relief of the US Schooner ''Shark'', 1846] provides a detailed account of the U.S. Schooner ''Shark''{{'}}s sojourn in the Oregon Country in 1846.
* [http://www.nps.gov/fova Fort Vancouver National Historic Site] Public programs, publications and annual living history events recount the experience of the ''Shark'' and its crew.
* [http://blog.oregonlive.com/travel_impact/2008/08/sharkgraphic.pdf Graphic of the U.S.S. ''Shark'']
* [http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2008/08/uss_shark_opens_portal_to_the.html USS ''Shark'' opens portal to the past]

{{1846 shipwrecks}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shark (1821)}}
[[Category:Schooners of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Oregon coast]]
[[Category:Ships built in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:1821 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in September 1846]]