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History Blog

Launch of Battleship Ohio - 1820

11/14/2025

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Editor's note: The following article is from the "New York Daily Advertiser", May 20, 1820. Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing this article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.
Picture
U.S. ship of the line Ohio: 104 guns. New York: Published by N. Currier. Currier & Ives. A size. Lithograph print, hand-colored. Currier & Ives : a catalogue raisonné / compiled by Gale Research. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, c1983, no. 6848
​The steamboats CONNECTICUT and CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON will take people to see the launch of the OHIO; the ferry master of the Williamsburgh ferry says that a good view may be had from Williamsburgh

Caution. -- The launch to-morrow will necessarily attract a number of persons, and it is more than possible, that many boat will be on the water. We trust that it will be recollected that the ship by its great size, will create much agitation and swell in the water, sufficient to fill small boats; those therefore, who are for aquatic excursions, will be warned thereby. Boys and children will also be looked after. and let there be no pressing or hurry to cross the ferries; accidents too frequently occur by an overweening anxiety to get a good view or an early sight of the object. The best position is from Corlaers Hook.
National Advocate, May 29, 1820, N-Y D Advertiser, May 30, 1820,

THE LAUNCH. FIRST BRIGADE N. Y. S. ARTILLERY. BRIGADE ORDERS.

A NATIONAL SALUTE will be fired on Tuesday, (this day), the 30th instant, at Corlaers Hook, in honor of the U. S. 74 gun ship, by a battalion from the 9th Regiment. 
. .
Ammunition will be provided on applying to the Brigade Quarter Master
***
THE LAUNCH. PERSONS who wish to see the launch of the Line of Battle Ship from the Navy Yard, are advised to be at the ferries to cross early in the morning, as the crowd will probably be immense, and many persons prevented from getting there in time. The steam ferry-boat will take passengers to see the Launch, at half past ten.

FOR THE LAUNCH, THE sloop RANDOLPH will leave the end of the Pier at East Rutgers-street, or at Rutgers-slip, this morning at 9 o'clock, cross over and anchor as near the Ship to be launched as is proper. As the Randolph is large and commodious, she can accommodate 50 or 60 persons more than have engaged. *** Price 25 cents.

LAUNCH, THE Steam-Boat FRANKLIN, Captain Macey, will start from Pike-slip . . . and take her station at a convenient distance, with safety, to afford the passengers a good view of the Launch. . . . Tickets of admission, 50 cents each. . . .

LAUNCH, THE sloop HOPE, a vessel of 70 tons, (with good accommodations). . . . Passage 25 cts. Refreshments to be had on board.

THE LAUNCH, THE sloop FANNY. . . . [25¢]

THE LAUNCH. AN elegant STAGE, erected at Lawrence and Sneedens Ship Yard, Corlaers Hook, east end of Water-street, completely fitted with seats for the accommodation of gentlemen and ladies. . . . The prospect is superior to any in the city. Admittance from 12½ to 25 cents.

THE LAUNCH, THE most eligible place for a sight of the Launch of the New Ship of the Line, . . . will be on the Bluff Point, a little south of the Williamsburgh Ferry, Long-Island. This Bluff being high, and commanding so elegant a view of the Navy-Yard, Wallabout, Corlaers Hook, and the surrounding harbor, that there is no place equally inviting. Besides, it will not be attended with that bustle and possible accident that may occur at those places likely to be more thronged. ***

THE LAUNCH, THE elegant Steamboat OLIVE BRANCH. . . . Fare 50 cents each. Refreshments may be had on board. After the Launch she will sail round the Islands,
and touch at the Quarantine Ground. ***

THE LAUNCH, THE elegant fast sailing sloop SYREN. . . . "the moderate price of 25 cents each" The SYREN will, if the wind should breeze, take a sail after the Launch, if the passengers wish, as far as the Quarantine Ground, and also round the Harbor. John Hunt, Corner of Corlaers Hook has made arrangements to accommodate a large number of Ladies and Gentlemen with seats at his residence at Corlaers-Hook, directly opposite the Navy Yard, which will afford a beautiful prospect of the Launch. . . . Admittance 12½ cents each -- children half price.

THE new and swift Steam-Boat MANHATTAN, is plying continually from the foot of Walnut-street to Little-street, Brooklyn, within a few yards of the Eastern Gate of the Navy Yard. ***
also the Steam-Boat CONNECTICUT and the Steamboat CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON, each 50¢
New-York Gazette & General Advertiser, May 30, 1820.

Launch. -- At 15 minutes past 11 o'clock, this forenoon, the beautiful line of battle ship OHIO, built under the superintendence of Mr. Eckford, at the navy-yard, left her cradle and majestically glided into her destined element, amidst the firing of cannon and acclamations of thousands of spectators, which crowded the surrounding hills and house-tops in the neighborhood. The day was fine, and all the steam-boats, and indeed almost every other kind of water craft, were put in requisition to convey parties of ladies and gentlemen to the spot, to witness her descent. . . . Wallabout Bay and the East River were literally covered with boats, many having on board elegant bands of music. . . . salutes were fired from the navy yard, from a detachment at Corlaers Hook, from the WASHINGTON 74 and from the HORNET; the latter vessel being decorated, in a most tasteful manner, with the flags of all nations, and her yards manned with hardy American tars. *** The concourse of people which lined the margin of the East River, from the country and from the city, it is calculated, amounted to upwards of twenty-five thousand. *** New-York Evening Post, May 30, 1820, 

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