American Muscle in the Mediterranean, The First Barbary War, 1801-1805

(Ships from left to right: U.S. Frigates Constellation, Congress, Constitution, Essex, Sloop Hornet)

30" x 40" — oil on canvas

SOLD

The two Barbary Wars, from 1801-1805; and 1815-1816, were fought by the United States against the Barbary States of North Africa (Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli), in response to their practice of indiscriminately, capturing U.S. and European Ships and holding them and their crews for ransom or tribute. The first six battleships of the U.S. Navy were authorized to be built by Congress specifically to combat this practice, these were the Frigates Chesapeake, Congress, Constellation, Constitution, President and the United States. In 1801 President Thomas Jefferson sent the first U.S. Naval fleet to the Mediterranean to attack the centers of Piracy by land and sea. This led to ultimate confessions from the North Africans to cease demanding ransoms and tribute, and to some of the most memorable U.S. military actions, including the burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor by U.S. Captain William Bainbridge after she ran aground so the Libyans couldn't take her. In fact, the song "From the Shores of Tripoli" later became the Marine Corps' anthem. In O'Brien's painting the majesty and might is on full display as they sail through the Mediterranean to North Africa.