USS Independence ( 1814 ) USS " Independence " was a wooden - hulled , three - masted ship , originally a ship of the line and the first to be commissioned by the United States Navy . Originally a 90 - gun ship , in 1836 she was cut down by one deck and re - rated as a 54 - gun frigate . Service history . Mediterranean Fleet , 1814 – 1822 . Launched on 22 June 1814 in the Boston Navy Yard , she immediately took on guns and was stationed with frigate to protect the approaches to Boston Harbor . Flying the broad pennant of Commodore William Bainbridge , and under command of Captain William M . Crane , she led her squadron from Boston on 3 July 1815 to deal with piratical acts of the Barbary States against American merchant commerce . Peace had been enforced by a squadron under Stephen Decatur by the time " Independence " arrived in the Mediterranean . But she led an impressive show of American naval might before Barbary ports that encouraged them to keep the peace treaties concluded . Having served adequate notice of rising U . S . seapower and added to the prestige of the Navy and the Nation , " Independence " returned to Newport , Rhode Island on 15 November 1815 . She continued to wear the pennant of Commodore Bainbridge at Boston until 29 November 1819 , then was flagship of Commodore John Shaw until placed in ordinary in 1822 . Refit 1836 . " Independence " remained in ordinary at Boston until 1836 when she was razeed ( cut down to one covered fighting deck with poop and forecastle ) . She was rated down to 54 guns as her configuration gave way to that of a very large frigate . She proved to be one of the fastest and most powerful " frigates " of the Navy . Russia , South America , Home Squadron , 1837 – 1845 . " Independence " recommissioned on 26 March 1837 and sailed from Boston on 20 May 1837 as flagship of Commodore John B . Nicholson . On board for her record passage across the Atlantic Ocean to England was the Honorable George Dallas , Minister to Russia . She arrived at Portsmouth , England , 13 June , called at Copenhagen ; then proceeded into Kronstadt 29 July 1837 to receive a visit from the Emperor Nicholas I of Russia . Two days later a steam boat arrived to transport Mr . Dallas and his family to St . Petersburg . Having received marked social courtesies from the Russian government , " Independence " departed Kronstadt on 13 August 1837 for Rio de Janeiro , where she became flagship of the Brazil Squadron to guard American commerce along the eastern seaboard of South America . This duty continued into the spring of 1839 when Commodore Nicholson attempted mediation to end the war between France and Argentina . He reported 22 April 1839 that : " Independence " returned north to New York on 30 March 1840 . She was laid up in ordinary until 14 May 1842 when she became flagship of Commodore Charles Stewart in the Home Squadron . Based at Boston and New York , she continued as his flagship until laid up in ordinary on 3 December 1845 . Mexican War , 1846 – 1849 . She recommissioned on 4 August 1846 , and the nation was already at war with Mexico as she departed Boston 29 August 1846 for the coast of California . She entered Monterey Bay on 22 January 1847 and became the flagship of Commodore William Shubrick , commanding the Pacific Squadron . " Independence " assisted in the blockade of the Mexican coast , capturing Mexican ship " Correo " and a launch on 16 May 1847 . She was present to support the capture of Guaymas on 19 October and landed sailor s and Marines to occupy Mazatlán on 11 November 1847 . She later cruised as far as Hawaii , arriving Hilo on 12 August 1848 , arriving Lahaina on 30 August 1848 and Honolulu 4 September 1848 . " Independence " returned to the East Coast at Norfolk , Virginia on 23 May 1849 and decommissioned there on 30 May . Mediterranean , Pacific , 1849 – 1912 . Recommissioned on 7 July 1849 , " Independence " departed Norfolk on 26 July under Captain Thomas Conover to serve as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Charles Morgan . She was the first U . S . man - of - war to show the flag at Spezia , Italy , arriving on 23 May 1850 to an enthusiastic welcome . She returned to Norfolk on 25 June 1852 and was placed in ordinary at New York on 3 July 1852 . " Independence " was recommissioned in September 1854 and departed New York on 10 October to serve as flagship of the Pacific Squadron under Commodore William Mervine . She arrived Valparaíso , Chile , on 2 February 1855 . Her cruising grounds ranged northward to San Francisco and west to Hawaii . Proceeding from Panama Bay , she entered the Mare Island Navy Yard on 2 October 1857 . She served as receiving ship there until decommissioned on 3 November 1912 . Her name was struck from the Navy List on 3 September 1913 . Decommissioning and fate . " Independence " did not leave the Mare Island Navy Yard until 28 November 1914 . Sold to John H . Rinder , she was towed to the Union Iron Works , San Francisco . On 5 March 1915 she shifted to Hunters Point , and remained for a week . Some repairs were made and a plan formulated to use her as a restaurant for the Panama - Pacific Exposition . But this plan was not executed though a permit was granted by Exposition authorities . Pig iron and ballast were removed from her hold and valuable hard wood salvaged from her orlop deck knees . The night of 20 September 1915 , " Independence " was burned on the Hunter ' s Point mud flats to recover her metal fittings .