Built as revenue cutter in Portsmouth, Virginia for the United States Revenue Cutter Service in Portsmouth, Virginia.
1797 launched as the USRC VIRGINIA named after the USA state VIRGINIA.
Displacement 187 tons, dim. 15m on keel, 5.74 x 2.59m.
Rigged as double topsails schooner or “jackass brig”
Armament 6 – 6 pdr. and 8 – 4pdr. canons.
Crew 70.
At the outset of the undeclared Quasi-War in 1798 against France, the only ships available to the USA Navy were the 10 ships of the Revenue Cutter Service. The largest was the newly built VIRGINIA.
She was transferred to the United States Navy.
25 June 1798 commissioned as USS VIRGINIA, under command of Captain Francis Bright.
In August 1798, Virginia received orders to join the frigate Constitution off the eastern seaboard of the United States for operations against suspected French warships and merchantmen. She remained on this station until December, when she was assigned identical duty in the West Indies between St. Christopher Island and Puerto Rico as part of the squadron commanded by Commodore Thomas Truxtun. While helping to defend American interests in the Caribbean, Virginia, assisted by Richmond and Eagle, captured the armed French schooner Louis and her cargo on 26 April 1799. Despite this success, in the following June, the fragile vessel was declared unfit for further naval service and was returned to the Revenue Cutter Service in 1800.
1802 After refitting she was commissioned as a revenue cutter.
1807 Sold, fate unknown.
Marshall Islands 1997 20c sg934, scott649at.
From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol.VII - p 540 and Wikipedia.