"Old Ironsides" is a poem written on September 16, 1830, by American writer Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. as a homage to the 18th-century USS Constitution. The poem was one of the reasons the frigate was rescued from decommissioning, and it is presently the world's oldest commissioned ship still afloat. Here are some other things you should know about the Constitution: She has been involved in several major battles over her long career. These include the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and World War II. The Constitution has never been defeated in battle, and she has only lost once at sea to another British ship. This is not very often considered a great victory today, but at the time it was seen as a huge accomplishment. She has also been involved in many notable incidents outside of battle. These include the burning of Washington by its own government, the arrest of Andrew Jackson for treason after he became president, and the killing of Thomas Jefferson by lightning. In addition to being a soldier, President George Washington was also an accomplished artist who made several drawings of the Constitution. He is believed to have painted the picture now on display in the National Archives Building. The Constitution has been preserved almost exactly as she was found after the war.