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Photo # NH 51922:  U.S. Brig Somers under sail, 1 Dec. 1842

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Somers (1842-1846)

USS Somers, a 259-ton Bainbridge class brig, was built at the New York Navy Yard. Commissioned in May 1842, she made a brief shakedown cruise to the Caribbean area, then left New York in September on a training voyage to the west coast of Africa. While en route home in late November, a suspected mutiny led Somers' officers to arrest three members of the crew, including Midshipman Philip Spencer, son of the then Secretary of War. The three men were executed by hanging on 1 December 1842, leading to a considerable controversy when Somers returned to the United States later in the month.

Somers operated along the U.S. Atlantic coast and in the West Indies during 1843-45. In the spring of 1846 war began with Mexico, and the brig joined the blockade off that nation's Gulf coast. On 26 November 1846, she captured and destroyed the schooner Criolla. On 8 December 1846, while commanded by Lieutenant Raphael Semmes, Somers was chasing a blockade runner off Vera Cruz when she was caught in a sudden storm. Capsized by the heavy winds, she quickly sank with the loss of more than thirty of her crew. In recent years, her wreck has been discovered and explored by divers.

This page features our only views of the U.S. Brig Somers (1842-1846).

For more information on this ship, see: "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships" entry for Somers, Brig

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 97588-KN (Color)

U.S. Brig Somers (1842-1846)

Colored sketch by a crewman of USS Columbus.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51922

USS Somers (1842-1846)


Lithograph, published circa 1843, depicting Somers under sail, bound home from the African coast on 1 December 1842, after the hanging of three alleged mutineers.
The men executed were: Midshipman Philip Spencer, Boatswain's Mate Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small. The print shows two of them hanging from the yardarm.

Courtesy of Rear Admiral Elliot Snow, USN, 1925.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 163KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 82556

Loss of USS Somers, 8 December 1846


Line engraving from "The Illustrated London News", 23 January 1847, entitled "Wreck of the American Brig 'Somers'.", depicting Somers on her beam ends after she capsized off Vera Cruz, Mexico, while chasing a blockade runner.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 168KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 1117

Loss of USS Somers, 8 December 1846


Lithograph by A. Mayer, Paris, depicting a whaleboat crew from the French Navy brig le Mercure rescuing survivors of the capsized Somers, off Vera Cruz, Mexico. Somers is visible in the right background, on her beam ends.

Collection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 13 April 2001
Link added 29 April 2001