USS Columbus launched at Washington Navy Yard

Background. Congress authorized construction of the 92-gun ship of the line USS Columbus on 2 January 1813. The Americans burned the Washington Navy Yard in 1814, just before the British occupation of Washington, to keep military stores out of British hands, destroying any initial framing. The yard, situated along the north shore of the Anacostia River, grew during the following decade to become by 1819 the largest employer in Washington, D.C., with approximately 345 workers.

Construction. Michael Shiner's diary records the ship as constructed and built by Colonel William Doughty. A naval architect named William Doughty (1773–1859) organized a volunteer militia rifle company of civilian workers at the yard earlier in 1813; in 1814 these volunteers were designated the Navy Yard Rifles under Major Robert Brent. The yard was described as a complete workshop containing twenty-two forges, five furnaces, and a steam-engine.

Launch. Enslaved laborer Michael Shiner documented the launching, stating the ship was launched on 4 March 1819. Official records indicate the launch occurred on 1 March 1819 into the Anacostia River. The ship's dimensions were 191 feet 10 inches between perpendiculars and 53 feet 6 inches in beam.