Heightened tensions with North African nations concerning American shipping and piracy led to the First Barbary War. USS Constellation was pressed into the convoy escort role in Mediterranean waters and was used to blockade Tunisia during May of 1802. Peace with Tunisia followed in 1805 and Constellation was recalled stateside - moored at Washington until 1812.
1812 saw a renewed conflict between the United States and Britain in what became known as the War of 1812. Constellation was back in service for 1813 and her notable action during the war was two denials of British attempts to take her at Hampton Roads. The war lasted until 1815 and resulted in a stalemate.
During this time, with American warships committed against Britain, North African pirates seized the opportunity to take on American shipping once more and this led to the Second Barbary War. A formal declaration of war against Algiers followed and Constellation returned to Mediterranean waters to reinforce American ocean power in the region. She claimed the enemy frigate "Mashuda" by capture in June of 1815 and helped to force a treaty which led Constellation to return stateside for late 1817.
More anti-piracy actions followed, firstly in Atlantic waters off the South American coast and then, later, in Pacific waters. There was another return to Mediterranean waters and, in 1835, she was used to squash a Seminole uprising. Before taking a trip around-the-world, Constellation participated with West India Squadron.
In 1853, she was struck from the Naval Register and stripped of her military value at Norfolk, Virginia. Her sailing days were at an end.
Her name was resurrected by way of construction of the new USS Constellation, a sloop-of-war launched in 1854. Unlike the original Constellation, the 1854 vessel was saved from the scrap heap after her sailing days and remains a protected vessel in Baltimore, Maryland.
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