USS Princeton ( 1843 ) The first Princeton was the first screw steam warship in the United States Navy . Commanded by corn Captain Robert F . Stockton " Princeton " was launched on 5 September 1843 , decommissioned in 1847 , and broken up in 1849 . The " Princeton ' s " reputation in the Navy never recovered from a devastating incident early in her service . On February 28 , 1844 , during a Potomac River pleasure cruise and demonstration of her two heavy guns for dignitaries , one of the guns exploded and killed Secretary of State Abel P . Upshur , Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer , and other high - ranking U . S . federal officials . President John Tyler barely escaped death in the incident . Ship history . " Princeton " was laid down on 20 October 1842 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard as a corvette . The designer of the ship and main supervisor of construction was the Swedish inventor John Ericsson , who later designed the . The construction was partly supervised by Captain Stockton who had secured the political support for the construction of the ship . The ship was named after Princeton , New Jersey , site of an American victory in the Revolution and hometown of the prominent Stockton family . The ship was launched on September 5 , 1843 and ordered commissioned on September 9 , 1843 , with Captain Stockton in command . Her two vibrating lever engines were built by Merrick & Towne , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania and designed by John Ericsson . They burned hard coal and drove a six - bladed screw in diameter . The engine was small enough to be below the waterline . Ericsson also designed the ship ' s collapsible funnel , an improved range - finder , and improved recoil systems for the main guns . " Princeton " made a trial trip in the Delaware River on October 12 . She departed Philadelphia on October 17 for a sea trial , proceeded to New York , where she engaged in a speed contest with the British steamer , besting her handily , and thence returned to Philadelphia on October 20 to finish outfitting . On November 22 , Capt . Stockton reported " " Princeton " will be ready for sea in a week . " On November 28 , he dressed ship and received visitors on board for inspection . On November 30 , she towed down the Delaware and later returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard . " Princeton " sailed on January 1 , 1844 for New York , where she received her two big guns , named " Peacemaker " and " Oregon " . The guns . The " Oregon , " originally named " The Orator , " was a smooth bore muzzle loader ( ML ) made out of wrought iron and was capable of firing a shot using a charge . It was designed by Ericsson and manufactured in England at the Mersey Iron Works and shipped to the U . S . in 1841 . The design was revolutionary in that it used the " built - up construction " of placing red - hot iron hoops around the breech - end of the weapon , which pre - tensioned the gun and greatly increased the charge the breech could withstand . The " Peacemaker " was another muzzle loader made by Hogg and Delamater of New York City , under the designs and direction of Capt . Stockton . Attempting to copy the Oregon , but not understanding the importance of Ericsson ' s hoop construction , Stockton instead heavily reinforced it at the breech simply by making the metal of the gun thicker , ending up with a weight of more than . This produced a gun that had the typical weakness of a wrought iron gun , the breech being unable to withstand the transverse forces of the charge . This meant it was almost certain to burst at some point . Stockton only allowed for a few test charges before putting it aboard " Princeton " . " Princeton " was sent to Washington , D . C . in late January 1844 , arriving on February 13 . Washingtonians displayed great interest in the ship and her guns . She made trial trips with passengers on board down the Potomac River on February 16 , 18 , and 20 , during which the " Peacemaker " was fired several times . " Peacemaker " accident . On February 28 , she departed Alexandria , Virginia on a pleasure and demonstration cruise down the Potomac with President John Tyler , his Cabinet , former first lady Dolley Madison , and approximately four hundred guests on board . The guests viewed the firing of the ship ' s guns and then retired below decks for lunch and refreshments . When they were summoned once more to view another test firing , the firing of Stockton ' s " Peacemaker " caused the gun to burst , sending shrapnel into the crowd . Instantly killed were Secretary Upshur , Secretary Gilmer , Capt . Beverly Kennon , who was Chief of the Bureau of Construction , Equipment and Repairs , Virgil Maxcy of Maryland , who had served as " Chargé d ' Affaires " to Belgium from 1837 to 1842 , Colonel David Gardiner of New York , the father of Julia Gardiner ( who afterwards became the President ' s fiancée ) , the President ' s valet , a black slave named Armistead , and two sailors . It also injured about 20 people , including Capt . Stockton . The President was unharmed , having been below decks when the gun exploded . When Julia Gardiner , who was aboard , found out her father had died in the explosion she fainted into Tyler ' s arms . Later history . During construction and in the years following , Stockton attempted to claim complete credit for the design and construction of " Princeton " . Although it is true he was a strong advocate of the ship and certainly helped bring it into existence , the engineering genius was mostly Ericsson ' s . A Court of Inquiry investigating the cause of the explosion exonerated Capt . Stockton due to his political influence ( he supported Tyler ’ s campaign ) , blaming the explosion on Ericsson ( despite the fact Ericsson had nothing to do with the design of the " Peacemaker " gun ) , and " bad luck " . As a result of his shameful treatment , Ericsson developed a long - lasting mistrust of the US Navy . " Princeton " was employed with the Home Squadron from 1845 - 1847 . She later served in the Mediterranean from 17 August 1847 – 24 June 1849 . Upon her return from Europe she was surveyed and her timbers were found to be rotten . She was condemned to be broken up at the Boston Navy Yard on 17 July . Two years later , her engines were used in constructing a new . The ship ' s bell is on display outside Princeton ' s borough hall .