Which British frigate was captured by the USS Constitution in August 1812?

The British frigate captured by USS Constitution in August 1812 was HMS Guerriere. The engagement took place on August 19, 1812, during the opening months of the War of 1812.

Guerriere had originally been built for the French Navy and was captured by the British in 1806, after which it was recommissioned as HMS Guerriere. It was a 38-gun frigate commanded by Captain James Richard Dacres. USS Constitution, commanded by Isaac Hull, encountered it in the Atlantic and closed for battle.

During the fight, Constitution’s fire severely damaged Guerriere’s foremast and mainmast, leaving the British ship unable to maneuver. Dacres struck his colors to surrender. The American crew then transferred the surviving British sailors aboard Constitution and burned Guerriere because the badly damaged frigate could not be saved.

A common mix-up is HMS Java, which Constitution defeated later, in December 1812. HMS Shannon was the ship that captured USS Chesapeake in 1813, while HMS Leopard’s earlier attack involved USS Chesapeake in 1807.