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Princeton (Frigate)

 Organization

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Clement M. Butler Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00845
Scope and Contents Letters written to the Rev. Clement M. Butler, Rector of St. John's Church, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., relating to the deaths and funeral obsequies of victims of the explosion on board the "U.S.S. Princeton" on February 28, 1844. The "Princeton" was the first screw-steam warship in the United States Navy. The 1844 accident occurred on board when a defective gun burst during a shooting demonstration, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer and...
Dates: 1844

George Sykes Letter and Ephemera

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00005
Scope and Contents This collection consists of an account of the USS Princeton disaster, handwritten by United States Congressman George Sykes and sent as a letter to his sister. The first-hand account describes the lead-up to the disaster, the explosion itself that killed six people, including the Secretary of State, President John Tyler's enslaved servant, and the father of Tyler's fiancée, and the aftermath and funeral.  Also included are Sykes' official invitation to the event that led to the disastor, and...
Dates: 1844 February-March

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  • Subject: United States. Navy X

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Clippings (information artifacts) 1
Correspondence 1
Invitations 1
Letters (correspondence) 1
United States. Navy 1