The U.S.S. Chesapeake, a 40-gun naval war frigate, was one of six frigates prepared under the Naval Act of 1794. The ship's brief career began with the Quasi-War with France in 1799.
Don’t Give Up the Ship Day is observed annually on June 1 to honour Captain James Lawrence, the commander of the U.S.S. Chesapeake. The purpose of the day is to honour the ship’s crew and commander, who refused to surrender the ship to the British and died on board. Even though there are conflicting accounts from various sources regarding the incident, Americans commemorate it as a remarkable display of naval valour.
The U.S.S. Chesapeake, a 40-gun naval war frigate, was one of six frigates prepared under the Naval Act of 1794. The ship’s brief career began with the Quasi-War with France in 1799. In 1807, the ship, which had been inactive since its commissioning, was assigned to Master Commandant Charles Gordon.
Prior to taking over patrol and convoy duties in the Mediterranean Sea, the ship required a new personnel and some maintenance. Gordon recruited three deserters from the British H.M.S. Melampus without his knowledge. Historians frequently disagree as to whether Gordon knew he was enlisting deserters, but it was unquestionably a factor in the subsequent British attack.
In May 1807, the Chesapeake departed Washington for Virginia, and when the British learned of this, they devised a plan to intercept it near Boston. The Chesapeake was intercepted at sea by British ships led by H.M.S. Leopard, which were providing a blockade to French vessels at the moment. The lieutenant of Leopard was denied permission to scour the Chesapeake for deserters. As planned, as soon as the lieutenant left the ship, Leopard opened fire on it. Unarmed, the Chesapeake sustained heavy losses in the ensuing battle.
In May 1813, after the commanding officer’s court-martial, Captain James Lawrence became the new captain. Five British merchant ships using the Chesapeake were captured during his initial successes. Within days, he was challenged by Captain Philip Broke’s H.M.S. Shannon. The Chesapeake was assailed from all sides, and as British sailors boarded the vessel, it became a battlefield. Approximately 72 people were slain in the ensuing heavy fighting, including the Chesapeake’s captain, James Lawrence. The Chesapeake was taken over by the British on June 1, 1813, after the captain succumbed to his injuries. Despite all the losses and his own injuries, the captain remained fearless and gave his famous orders, “Don’t give up the ship,” before succumbing to his wounds.
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These words are now legendary and carry a great deal more weight in the navy.
It is a battle cry before every American football contest.
These five words on a blue background became Commodore Oliver H. Perry’s battle ensign.
Despite all the heroism, this tale has a profoundly anticlimactic conclusion.
The lessons learned from the American Navy’s defeat at Boston proved invaluable in subsequent conflicts.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 1 | Thursday |
| 2024 | June 1 | Saturday |
| 2025 | June 1 | Sunday |
| 2026 | June 1 | Monday |
| 2027 | June 1 | Tuesday |
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