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A part of the Flag worn by His Britanic Majesty's Sloop of War Frolic during the Action with the United S. Sloop of War Wasp

Object Status:

Unlocated

Accession Date:

July 24, 1813

Primary Source Reference:

Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 69

Notes:

On 18 Oct 1812 the sloop-of-war USS Wasp captured HMS Frolic in the Atlantic. Both vessels were shortly thereafter captured by a British ship of the line which happened upon the scene of the battle.

Lt. Alexander Claxton (1792-1841) was recognized for his gallantry during this engagement with the thanks of Congress and a silver medal. He later rose to be commodore of the Pacific squadron and its flagship USS Constitution. Horatio Bateman, Biographies of Two Hundred and Fifty Distinguished National Men (New York, 1871), p. 58.