USS Chesapeake (1799)

''Chesapeake'' was a 38-gun wooden- hulled, three- masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young navy's capital ships. ''Chesapeake'' was originally designed as a 44-gun frigate, but construction delays, material shortages and budget problems caused builder Josiah Fox to alter his design to 38 guns. Launched at the Gosport Navy Yard on 2 December 1799, ''Chesapeake'' began her career during the Quasi-War with France and later saw service in the First Barbary War.

On 22 June 1807 she was fired upon by of the Royal Navy for refusing to allow a search for deserters. The event, now known as the ''Chesapeake–Leopard'' affair, angered the American public and government and was a precipitating factor that led to the War of 1812. As a result of the affair, ''Chesapeake''s commanding officer, James Barron, was court-martialed and the United States instituted the Embargo Act of 1807 against the United Kingdom.

Early in the War of 1812 she made one patrol and captured five British merchant ships. She was captured by shortly after sailing from Boston, Massachusetts, on 1 June 1813. The Royal Navy took her into their service as HMS ''Chesapeake'', where she served until she was broken up and her timbers sold in 1819. They gave form and structure to the Chesapeake Mill in Wickham, England.

Design and construction

American merchant vessels began to fall prey to Barbary Pirates, mainly from Algiers, in the Mediterranean during the 1790s. Congress responded with the Naval Act of 1794.Allen (1909), pp. 41–42. The act provided funds for the construction of six frigates, and directed that the construction would continue unless and until the United States agreed peace terms with Algiers.Beach (1986), p. 29.''An Act to provide a Naval Armament''. (1794). Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 February 2011.

Joshua Humphreys' design was long on keel and narrow of beam (width) to allow for the mounting of very heavy guns. The design incorporated a diagonal scantling (rib) scheme to limit hogging (warping) and included extremely heavy planking. This gave the hull greater strength than those of more lightly built frigates. Since the fledgling United States could not match the number of ships of the European states, Humphreys designed his frigates to be able to overpower other frigates, but with the speed to escape from a ship of the line.Toll (2006), pp. 49–53.Beach (1986), pp. 29–30, 33.Allen (1909), pp. 42–45.

Originally designated as "Frigate D", the ship remained unnamed for several years. Her keel was laid down in December 1795 at the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk County – now the city of Portsmouth in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where Josiah Fox had been appointed her naval constructor and Richard Dale as superintendent of construction. In March 1796 a peace accord was announced between the United States and Algiers and construction was suspended in accordance with the Naval Act of 1794. The keel remained on blocks in the navy yard for two years.Beach (1986), p. 30.

The onset of the Quasi-War with France in 1798 prompted Congress to authorize completion of "Frigate D", and they approved resumption of the work on 16 July. When Fox returned to Norfolk he discovered a shortage of timber caused by its diversion from Norfolk to Baltimore in order to finish . He corresponded with Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, who indicated a desire to expedite construction of the ship and reduce the overall cost. Fox, always an opponent of Humphreys' large design, submitted new plans to Stoddert which called for utilizing the existing keel but reducing the overall dimensions substantially in length and partially of beam. Fox's plans essentially proposed an entirely different design than originally planned by Humphreys. Secretary Stoddert approved the new design plans.Allen (1909), p. 56.Beach (1986), pp. 30–31.

When construction finished, ''Chesapeake'' had the smallest dimensions of the six frigates. A length of between perpendiculars and of beam contrasted with her closest sisters, and ''Constellation'', which were built to in length and of beam.Toll (2006), p. 289. The final cost of her construction was $220,677—the second-least expensive frigate of the six. The least expensive was ''Congress'' at $197,246.

During construction, a sloop named ''Chesapeake'' was launched on 20 June 1799 but was renamed between 10 October and 14 November, apparently to free up the name ''Chesapeake'' for "Frigate D". In communications between Fox and Stoddert, Fox repeatedly referred to her as ''Congress'', further confusing matters, until he was informed by Stoddert the ship was to be named ''Chesapeake'', after Chesapeake Bay. She was the only one of the six frigates not named by President George Washington, nor after a principle of the United States Constitution.Beach (1986), p. 31.

Armament

''Chesapeake''s nominal rating is stated as either 36 or 38 guns. Originally designated as a 44-gun ship, her redesign by Fox led to a rerating, apparently based on her smaller dimensions when compared to ''Congress'' and ''Constellation''. Joshua Humphreys may have rerated ''Chesapeake'' to 38 guns,Chapelle (1949), p. 128. or Secretary Stoddert may have rerated ''Congress'' and ''Constellation'' to 38 guns because they were larger than ''Chesapeake'', which was rated to 36 guns.Beach (1986), p. 32. The most recent information on her rating is from the ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'', published in 2011, which states she was rerated "from 44 guns to 36, eventually increased to 38". Her gun rating remained a matter of confusion throughout her career; Fox used a 44-gun rating in his correspondence with Secretary Stoddert. In preparing for the War of 1812 Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton directed Captain Samuel Evans to recruit the number of crewmen required for a 44-gun ship. Hamilton was corrected by William Bainbridge in a letter stating, "There is a mistake in the crew ordered for the ''Chesapeake'', as it equals in number the crews of our 44-gun frigates, whereas the ''Chesapeake'' is of the class of the ''Congress'' and ''Constellation''."Roosevelt (1883), p. 50. When sold for scrap by the Royal Navy in 1819, she was rated as a 48-gun ship.

Gun ratings did not correspond to the actual number of guns a ship would carry. ''Chesapeake'' was noted as carrying 40 guns during her encounter with in 1807 and 50 guns during her engagement with in 1813. The 50 guns consisted of twenty-eight 18-pounder (8 kg) long guns on the gun deck, fourteen on each side. This main battery was complemented by two long 12-pounders (5.5 kg), one long 18-pounder, eighteen 32-pounder (14.5 kg) carronades, and one 12-pound carronade on the spar deck. Her broadside weight was .Cooper (1856), pp. 225–226.

The ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns; guns were completely portable and were often exchanged between ships as situations warranted. Each commanding officer modified his vessel's armament to his liking while taking into consideration factors such as the overall tonnage of cargo, complement of personnel aboard, and planned routes to be sailed. Consequently, a vessel's armament would change often during its career; records of the changes were not generally kept.Jennings (1966), pp. 17–19.

Quasi-War

''Chesapeake'' was launched on 2 December 1799 during the undeclared Quasi-War (1798–1800), which arose after the French navy seized American merchant ships. Her fitting-out continued until May 1800. In March Josiah Fox was reprimanded by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert for continuing to work on ''Chesapeake'' while ''Congress'', still awaiting completion, was fully manned with a crew drawing pay. Stoddert appointed Thomas Truxton to ensure that his directives concerning ''Congress'' were carried out.Toll (2006), p. 138.

''Chesapeake'' first put to sea on 22 May commanded by Captain Samuel Barron and marked her departure from Norfolk with a 13-gun salute.Toll (2006), p. 139. Her first assignment was to carry currency from Charleston, South Carolina, to Philadelphia.Cooper (1856), p. 139. On 6 June she joined a squadron patrolling off the southern coast of the United States and in the West Indies escorting American merchant ships.Allen (1909), p. 217.

Capturing the 16-gun French privateer ''La Jeune Creole'' on 1 January 1801 after a chase lasting 50 hours, she returned to Norfolk with her prize on 15 January. ''Chesapeake'' returned briefly to the West Indies in February, soon after a peace treaty was ratified with France. She returned to Norfolk and decommissioned on 26 February, subsequently being placed in reserve.Allen (1909), pp. 217, 252.

First Barbary War

During the Quasi-War, the United States had paid tribute to the Barbary States to ensure that they would not seize or harass American merchant ships.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 215–216. In 1801 Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli, dissatisfied with the amount of tribute he received in comparison to that paid to Algiers, demanded an immediate payment of $250,000.Allen (1905), pp. 88, 90. Thomas Jefferson responded by sending a squadron of warships to protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean and to pursue peace negotiations with the Barbary States.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 228.Allen (1905), p. 92. The first squadron was under the command of Richard Dale in ''President'' and the second was assigned to the command of Richard Valentine Morris in ''Chesapeake''. Morris's squadron eventually consisted of the vessels ''Constellation'', , , , and . It took several months to prepare the vessels for sea; they departed individually as they became ready.Allen (1905), pp. 105–106.Cooper (1856), p. 155.

''Chesapeake'' sailed from Hampton Roads on 27 April 1802 and arrived at Gibraltar on 25 May; she immediately put in for repairs, as her main mast had split during the voyage.Cooper (1856), p. 158. Morris remained at Gibraltar while awaiting word on the location of his squadron, as several ships had not reported in. On 22 July ''Adams'' arrived with belated orders for Morris, dated 20 April. Those were to "lay the whole squadron before Tripoli" and negotiate peace.Allen (1905), pp. 113–114. ''Chesapeake'' and ''Enterprise'' departed Gibraltar on 17 August bound for Leghorn, while providing protection for a convoy of merchant ships that were bound for intermediate ports. Morris made several stops in various ports before finally arriving at Leghorn on 12 October, after which he sailed to Malta. ''Chesapeake'' undertook repairs of a rotted bowsprit.Allen (1905), pp. 114–116.Cooper (1856), p. 159. ''Chesapeake'' was still in port when ''John Adams'' arrived on 5 January 1803 with orders dated 23 October 1802 from Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith. These directed ''Chesapeake'' and ''Constellation'' to return to the United States; Morris was to transfer his command to ''New York''.Allen (1905), p. 117. ''Constellation'' sailed directly as ordered, but Morris retained ''Chesapeake'' at Malta, claiming that she was not in any condition to make an Atlantic voyage during the winter months.Allen (1905), p. 118.

Morris now had the ships ''New York'', ''John Adams'', and ''Enterprise'' gathered under him, while ''Adams'' was at Gibraltar. On 30 January ''Chesapeake'' and the squadron got underway for Tripoli, where Morris planned to burn Tripolitan ships in the harbor. Heavy gales made the approach to Tripoli difficult. Fearing ''Chesapeake'' would lose her masts from the strong winds, Morris returned to Malta on 10 February.Allen (1905), p. 120.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 235. With provisions for the ships running low and none available near Malta, Morris decided to abandon plans to blockade Tripoli and sailed the squadron back to Gibraltar for provisioning. They made stops at Tunis on 22 February and Algiers on 19 March. ''Chesapeake'' arrived at Gibraltar on 23 March, where Morris transferred his command to ''New York''.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 236–237. Under James Barron, ''Chesapeake'' sailed for the United States on 7 April and she was placed in reserve at the Washington Navy Yard on 1 June.Allen (1905), pp. 121–123.

Morris remained in the Mediterranean until September, when orders from Secretary Smith arrived suspending his command and instructing him to return to the United States. There he faced a Naval Board of Inquiry which found that he was censurable for "inactive and dilatory conduct of the squadron under his command". He was dismissed from the navy in 1804.Allen (1905), pp. 133–135.Beach (1986), p. 45. Morris's overall performance in the Mediterranean was particularly criticized for the state of affairs aboard ''Chesapeake'' and his inactions as a commander. His wife, young son, and housekeeper accompanied him on the voyage, during which his wife gave birth to another son. Midshipman Henry Wadsworth wrote that he and the other midshipman referred to Mrs. Morris as the "Commodoress" and believed she was the main reason behind ''Chesapeake'' remaining in port for months at a time.Toll (2006), p. 173.Fowler (1984), p. 73. Consul William Eaton reported to Secretary Smith that Morris and his squadron spent more time in port sightseeing and doing little but "dance and wench", rather than blockading Tripoli.Fowler (1984), pp. 74–75.

''Chesapeake''–''Leopard'' Affair

In January 1807 Master Commandant Charles Gordon was appointed ''Chesapeake''s commanding officer (captain). He was ordered to prepare her for patrol and convoy duty in the Mediterranean to relieve her sister ship , which had been on duty there since 1803. James Barron was appointed overall commander of the squadron as its commodore.Toll (2006), p. 290.Cooper (1856), p. 224. ''Chesapeake'' was in much disarray from her multi-year period of inactivity and many months were required for repairs, provisioning, and recruitment of personnel.Fowler (1984), p. 152. Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair was tasked with the recruiting. Among those chosen were three sailors who had deserted from . The British ambassador to the United States requested the return of the sailors. Barron found that, although they were indeed from ''Melampus'', they had been impressed into Royal Navy service from the beginning. He therefore refused to release them back to ''Melampus'' and nothing further was communicated on the subject.Fowler (1984), p. 153.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 305–306.

In early June ''Chesapeake'' departed the Washington Navy Yard for Norfolk, Virginia, where she completed provisioning and loading armaments. Captain Gordon informed Barron on the 19th that ''Chesapeake'' was ready for sea and they departed on 22 June armed with 40 guns. At the same time, a British squadron consisting of HMS ''Melampus'', , and ''Leopard'' (a 50-gun fourth rate) were lying off the port of Norfolk blockading two French ships there. As ''Chesapeake'' departed, the squadron ships began signaling each other and ''Leopard'' got under way, preceding ''Chesapeake'' to sea.Toll (2006), p. 295.

After sailing for some hours, ''Leopard'', commanded by Captain Salusbury Humphreys, approached ''Chesapeake'' and hailed a request to deliver dispatches to England, a customary request of the time.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 306. When a British lieutenant arrived by boat he handed Barron an order, given by Vice-Admiral George Berkeley of the Royal Navy, which instructed the British ships to stop and board ''Chesapeake'' to search for deserters. Barron refused to allow this search, and as the lieutenant returned to ''Leopard'' Barron ordered the crew to general quarters.Cooper (1856), pp. 227, 229. Shortly afterward ''Leopard'' hailed ''Chesapeake''; Barron could not understand the message. ''Leopard'' fired a shot across the bow, followed by a broadside, at ''Chesapeake''. For fifteen minutes, while ''Chesapeake'' attempted to arm herself, ''Leopard'' continued to fire broadside after broadside until Barron struck his colors. ''Chesapeake'' only managed to fire one retaliatory shot after hot coals from the galley were brought on deck to ignite the cannon.Fowler (1984), p. 155. The British boarded ''Chesapeake'' and carried off four crewmen, declining Barron's offer that ''Chesapeake'' be taken as a prize of war.Cooper (1856), p. 230. ''Chesapeake'' suffered three sailors killed and Barron was among the eighteen wounded.Toll (2006), pp. 295–298.

Word of the incident spread quickly on ''Chesapeake''s return to Hampton Roads, where the British squadron that included ''Leopard'' was provisioning. Mobs of angry citizens destroyed two hundred water casks destined for the squadron and nearly killed a British lieutenant before local authorities intervened. The fourth death of a "Chesapeake" sailor two days later came in the midst of the growing outrage. The coffin holding the body of Robert MacDonald was transported across the Elizabeth River, which flowed between Portsmouth and Norfolk, amid cannon tributes and ships at half mast and an estimated 4,000 citizens to receive it at the Norfolk wharf.

In subsequent days, the event would lead to the angry resolutions of town governments on the east coast and into the Midwest. In Pennsylvania, a group representing the state's First Congressional District declared the attack “an act of such consummate violence and wrong, and of so barbarous and murderous a character that it would debase and degrade any nation and much more so a nation of freemen to submit to it.”

President Jefferson recalled all US warships from the Mediterranean and issued a proclamation: all British warships were banned from entering US ports and those already in port were to depart. The incident eventually led to the Embargo Act of 1807.Fowler (1984), pp. 155–156.Toll (2006), pp. 299, 301. As the first significant conflict between America and Great Britain after the Revolutionary War, it would give energy to what some historians would deem the second Revolutionary War, the War of 1812.

''Chesapeake'' was completely unprepared to defend herself during the incident. None of her guns were primed for operation and the spar deck was filled with materials that were not properly stowed in the cargo hold.Toll (2006), p. 294. A court-martial was convened for Barron and Captain Gordon, as well as Lieutenant Hall of the Marines. Barron was found guilty of "neglecting on the probability of an engagement to clear his Ship for action" and suspended from the navy for five years. Gordon and Hall were privately reprimanded, and the ship's gunner was discharged from the navy.Fowler (1984), p. 156.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 307–308.

War of 1812

After the heavy damage inflicted by ''Leopard'', ''Chesapeake'' returned to Norfolk for repairs. Under the command of Stephen Decatur, she made patrols off the New England coast enforcing the Embargo Act throughout 1809.Toll (2006), pp. 289, 310.

The ''Chesapeake''–''Leopard'' Affair, and later the ''Little Belt'' affair, contributed to the United States' decision to declare war on Britain on 18 June 1812. ''Chesapeake'', under the command of Captain Samuel Evans, was prepared for duty in the Atlantic.Toll (2006), p. 402. Beginning on 13 December, she ranged from Madeira and traveled clockwise to the Cape Verde Islands and South America, and then back to Boston. She captured six ships as prizes: the British ships ''Volunteer'', , ''EarlPercy'', and ''Ellen'', the brig ''Julia'' (an American ship trading under a British license), and ''Valeria'' (an American ship recaptured from British privateers). During the cruise an unidentified British ship-of-the-line and a frigate chased ''Chesapeake'' but, after a passing storm squall, the two pursuing ships were gone the next morning. The cargo of ''Volunteer'', 40 tons of pig iron and copper, was sold for $185,000. ''Earl Percy'' never made it back to port as she ran aground off the coast of Long Island. ''Liverpool Hero'' was burned as she was considered leaky. ''Chesapeake''s total monetary damage to British shipping was $235,675 (equivalent to $ million in ). She returned to Boston on 9 April 1813 for refitting.Calhoun (2008), pp. 6–8, 14–16.Roosevelt (1883), p. 163.

Captain Evans, now in poor health, requested relief of command. Captain James Lawrence, late of and her victory over , took command of ''Chesapeake'' on 20 May. Matters on board the ship were in disarray. The term of enlistment for many of the crew had expired and they were daily leaving the ship. Those who remained were disgruntled and approaching mutiny, as the prize money they were owed from her previous cruise was held up in court.Cooper (1856), p. 305. Lawrence paid out the prize money from his own pocket in order to appease them. Some sailors from ''Constitution'' joined ''Chesapeake'' and they made up the crew, along with sailors of several nations.Roosevelt (1883), p. 178.

Meanwhile, HMS ''Shannon'', a 38-gun frigate, under Captain Philip Broke was patrolling off the port of Boston on blockade duty. ''Shannon'' had been under the command of Broke since 1806 and, under his direction, the crew held daily great gun and small arms drills lasting up to three hours each. Crew members who hit their bullseye were awarded a pound (454 g) of tobacco for their good marksmanship. Broke had also fitted out his cannons with dispart and tangent sights to increase accuracy as well as degree bearings on the decks and gun carriages to allow the crew to focus their fire on a specific target. In this regard ''Chesapeake'', with traditional gun practice and a crew that had only been together for a few months, was inferior.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 179–180.

''Chesapeake'' vs ''Shannon''

Lawrence, advised that ''Shannon'' had moved in closer to Boston, began preparations to sail on the evening of 31 May. The next morning Broke wrote a challenge to Lawrence and dispatched it to ''Chesapeake''; it had not arrived when Lawrence set out to meet ''Shannon'' on his own accord.Cooper (1856), p. 304.Roosevelt (1883), p. 182.

Leaving port with a broad white flag bearing the motto "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights", ''Chesapeake'' met ''Shannon'' near 5 pm that afternoon. During six minutes of firing, each ship managed two full broadsides. ''Chesapeake''s first broadside was fired while the ship was heeling, causing most shots to strike the water or ''Shannon''s waterline, causing little damage; although carronade fire caused serious damage to ''Shannon''s rigging. A second round of fire was more effective, landing hits on ''Shannon''s 12-pounder shot locker. ''Chesapeake''s 32-pound carronades punished ''Shannon''s forecastle, killing three men, wounding others and disabling ''Shannon''s nine-pounder bow gun. ''Chesapeake'' suffered far more heavily in the exchange, as accurate British fire caused heavy losses among American gun crews, and crippling losses to the men and officers on ''Chesapeake''s quarterdeck. A succession of helmsmen were killed and her wheel was destroyed. At the same time, her foretopsail halyard was shot away causing the ship to lose maneuverability.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 182–183.

Unable to maneuver, ''Chesapeake'' " luffed up" and her port stern quarter caught against the side of ''Shannon'' amidships and the two ships were lashed together. Confusion and disarray reigned on the deck of ''Chesapeake''; Captain Lawrence tried rallying a party to board ''Shannon'', but the bugler failed to sound the call.Cooper (1856), p. 306. At this point a shot from a sniper mortally wounded Lawrence; as his men carried him below, he gave his last order: "Don't give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks."Cooper (1856), pp. 305–307.Roosevelt (1883), p. 184. There are varying historical accounts of what Lawrence may actually have uttered.

Captain Broke boarded ''Chesapeake'' at the head of a party of 20 men. They met little resistance from ''Chesapeake''s crew, most of whom had run below deck. The only resistance from ''Chesapeake'' came from her contingent of marines. The British soon overwhelmed them; only nine escaped injury out of 44.Roosevelt (1883), p. 185. Captain Broke was severely injured in the fighting on the forecastle, being struck in the head with a sword. Soon after, ''Shannon''s crew pulled down ''Chesapeake''s flag. Only 15 minutes had elapsed from the first exchange of gunfire to the capture.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 186–187.Cooper (1856), p. 307.

Reports on the number of killed and wounded aboard ''Chesapeake'' during the battle vary widely. Broke's after-action report from 6 July states 70 killed and 100 wounded. Other contemporary sources place the number between 48 and 61 killed and 85–99 wounded.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 459.Beach (1986), p. 110. Discrepancies in the number of killed and wounded are possibly caused by the addition of sailors who died of their wounds after the battle.Toll (2006), p. 415. The counts for ''Shannon'' have fewer discrepancies with 23 killed and 56 wounded. Despite his serious injuries, Broke ordered repairs to both ships and they proceeded on to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Captain Lawrence died en route of his wounds and was buried in a Halifax cemetery with full military honors. The dead crewmen were buried on Dead Man's Island in Nova Scotia. Captain Broke survived his wounds and was later made a baronet.Roosevelt (1883), p. 187.Cooper (1856), p. 308.

Royal Navy service and legacy

The Royal Navy repaired ''Chesapeake'' and took her into service as HMS ''Chesapeake''. She served on the Halifax station under the command of Alexander Dixie until 1814, and, in April, was sighted in the Chesapeake Bay, off the coast of Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Later that year and under the command of George Burdett she sailed to Plymouth, England, for repairs in October of that year. Afterward she made a voyage to Cape Town, South Africa, until learning of the peace treaty with the United States in May 1815.Beach (1986), pp. 112–113. Later that year a report was made concerning ''Chesapeake''s performance in British service. Her captain observed that she was strongly constructed, but criticized the excessive overhang of the stern. He concluded that she was not a suitable ship to serve as a model for copying. Her speed under sail was not impressive: close-hauled and large.

In 1819, the "Chesapeake", constructed in Portsmouth, Virginia, was sold for £500 to Joshua Holmes in Portsmouth, England, and her various components were offered for sale in ""The Telegraph and Sussex"", published in Hampshire County as a “very large quantity of OAK and FIR TIMBER of most excellent quality, and well worth the attention of any person.” Large, unbroken portions of the ship were bought by John Prior to build a new watermill at Wickham, Hampshire.Beach (1986), p. 113. The Chesapeake Mill would play a significant role in the agricultural economy of Hampshire County until it became increasingly obsolescent in the 1970s. After failed attempts to preserve the mill as a historical center through the early 2000s, it was given over to commercial operators and operated as an antique mall in 2021.

As a watermill, the ""Chesapeake" may be the most originally preserved of the original six frigates of the U.S. Navy. Interpretation of the USS Constitution, preserved in Boston harbor, suggests original wood or components from 0% to 15%. The Chesapeake Mill is constructed of largely intact and unaltered components of the original ship – timber configuration, lintels, stairways, the five main spine beams to each floor, the floor joists, the roof timbers, other wood – some appearing to show the grapeshot of battle. The wood has been preserved within a five-story building with walls and beneath a roof for 200 years.

In 1996 a timber fragment from the Chesapeake Mill was returned to the United States. It is on display at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum.

Almost from her beginnings, ''Chesapeake'' was considered an "unlucky ship", the "runt of the litter" to the superstitious sailors of the 19th century, and the product of a disagreement between Humphreys and Fox. Her unsuccessful encounters with HMS ''Leopard'' and ''Shannon'', the courts-martial of two of her captains, and the accidental deaths of several crewmen led many to believe she was cursed.

Arguments defending both Humphreys and Fox regarding their long-standing disagreements over the design of the frigates carried on for years. Humphreys disowned any credit for Fox's redesign of ''Chesapeake''. In 1827 he wrote, "She 'Chesapeake''spoke his ox'stalents. Which I leave the Commanders of that ship to estimate by her qualifications."Toll (2006), pp. 472–473.

Lawrence's last command of "Don't give up the ship!" became a rallying cry for the US Navy. Oliver Hazard Perry, in command of naval forces on Lake Erie during September 1813, named his flagship , which flew a broad blue flag bearing the words " give up the ship!" The phrase is still used in the US Navy today.

''Chesapeake''s battle-damaged ensign was sold at auction in London in 1908. Purchased by William Waldorf Astor, it now resides in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, along with her signal book. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, holds several artifacts from the battle including the mess kettle, and an officers chest from ''Chesapeake''. One of the 18-pounder guns from ''Chesapeake'' is mounted beside Province House, the Nova Scotia Legislature.

A fictionalized account of the battle between ''Chesapeake'' and ''Shannon'' appears at the conclusion of '' The Fortune of War'', the sixth historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by British author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1979.

In 2021, The U.S. Navy announced that a namesake USS "Chesapeake" would be constructed as a member of a “Constellation Class” of ships in future years.SECNAV Names Future Vessels while aboard Historic Navy Ship > United States Navy > News-Stories
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chesapeake (1799)
Sailing frigates of the United States Navy
Quasi-War ships of the United States
Vessels captured from the United States Navy
War of 1812 ships of the United States
War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom
Ships built in Portsmouth, Virginia
1799 ships
Barbary Wars American ships