The first John Adams was originally built in 1799 as a frigate for the United States Navy, converted to a corvette in 1809, and later converted back to a frigate in 1830. Named for American Founding Father and president John Adams, she fought in the Quasi-War, the First and Second Barbary Wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.
R Smith to Captain Isaac Chauncey, 6 Mar 1805, re recruiting seamen for USS John Adams
Quarterly Returns of Punishment 1 April to 30 June 1846 for USS John Adams
The First Barbary War (1801–1805), also known as the Tripolitan War and the Barbary Coast War, was a conflict during the Barbary Wars, in which the United States and Sweden fought against Tripolitania. Tripolitania had declared war against Sweden and the United States over disputes regarding tributary payments made by both states in exchange for a cessation of Tripolitanian commerce raiding at sea. United States President Thomas Jefferson refused to pay this tribute. Sweden had been at war with the Tripolitans since 1800. The First Barbary War was the first major American war fought outside the New World, and in the Arab world.
USS Enterprise fighting the Tripolitan polacca Tripoli by William Bainbridge Hoff, 1878
Captain William Bainbridge paying tribute to the Dey of Algiers, 1800
An artist's depiction of the Philadelphia aground off Tripoli, in October 1803
An 1897 painting of the burning of the USS Philadelphia