USS Shark ( 1821 ) The first USS " Shark " was a schooner in the United States Navy . Built in the Washington Navy Yard , " Shark " was launched on 17 May 1821 . On 11 May 1821 , Matthew C . Perry was ordered to take command of " Shark " , and the ship was ready to receive her crew on 2 June 1821 . History . " Shark " sailed from the Washington Navy Yard on 15 July for New York , where she received Dr . Eli Ayers on board for transportation to the west coast of Africa . She cleared New York harbor on 7 August to make her first cruise for the suppression of the slave trade and piracy . Sailing by way of the Madeira , Canary , and Cape Verde islands , she landed Dr . Ayers at Sierra Leone in west Africa in October and returned by way of the West Indies to New York on 17 January 1822 . " Shark " put to sea from New York on 26 February and joined Commodore James Biddle ' s squadron for the suppression of piracy and slave trading in the West Indies . On 25 March , Lt . Perry took formal possession of what is now Key West , Florida , in the name of the United States . He called the island Thompson ' s Island to honor Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson and named the harbor Port Rodgers to compliment Commodore John Rodgers . Under orders from Commodore Biddle , " Shark " departed Nassau on 14 August for another cruise to the coast of Africa and returned to Norfolk , Virginia on 12 December 1822 . She again sailed for the West Indies in February 1823 , and returned to New York on 9 July for repairs . On 5 October , she sailed from New York carrying Commodore John Rodgers and three Navy surgeons to Thompson ' s Island to determine the fitness of that place as a naval base . She debarked Rodgers and his party at Norfolk on 16 November 1823 before resuming her cruise in the West Indies . She returned to New York on 13 May 1824 . After repairs in the New York Navy Yard , " Shark " sailed from New York on 5 October 1825 and cruised in the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico until 29 August 1826 , when she arrived at Norfolk . On 28 November . she departed Norfolk and proceeded to the coast of Africa to protect slaves freed from captured slave ship s . After seeing that the liberated slaves were safely established in Liberia , she returned by way of the Caribbean and arrived at New York on 5 July 1827 . The busy schooner sailed again on 24 July for a cruise to the Newfoundland fisheries to defend American interests there and returned on 6 October . She then resumed her duty in the West Indies , which included anti - slavery and anti - piracy patrols and periodic voyages to West Africa to check the American settlements there . In 1833 , " Shark " was relieved in the West Indies by the schooner , " Experiment " , and sailed for the Mediterranean , where she remained for the next five years , cruising extensively in order to protect American commerce . She cleared Gibraltar for the United States on 22 January 1838 and . sailing by way of the West Indies , arrived at the Norfolk Navy Yard on 24 March . " Shark " put to sea from Hampton Roads on 22 July 1839 for duty with the Pacific Squadron . She was the first United States man - of - war to pass through the Straits of Magellan from east to west , a feat accomplished on 13 December 1839 en route to Callao , Peru . During the next five years , she spent much of her time along the coast of Peru to protect American citizens and property during civil disturbances in that country . The Secretary of the Navy noted in 1841 that “ all who witnessed the operations of the " Shark " were inspired with increased respect for the American flag . ” She also made infrequent cruises northward to observe conditions in Panama and to receive mail . Sinking . On 1 April 1846 , " Shark " was ordered to Honolulu , Hawaii for repairs in preparation for an exploratory voyage up the Columbia River , " to obtain correct information of that country and to cheer our citizens in that region by the presence of the American flag . " She reached the coast of Oregon on 15 July 1846 , and soon crossed the bar off the mouth of the Columbia River ( after grounding once on 18 July without any " material damage " ) , for explorations in the lower Columbia River and Willamette Valley while staging out of Fort Vancouver . After several weeks in the vicinity of the fort , the vessel returned to the mouth of the river on 8 September ; and , knowing that the bar had changed position since the last survey was made , spent the following day making new observations of the bar and other preparations for crossing . However , her effort to recross the bar ended in disaster on 10 September , for she struck an uncharted shoal and was swept into the breakers by a swift tide . The ship was a total loss , but her entire crew was saved . Upon learning of the vessel ' s demise , the Royal Navy and Hudson ' s Bay Company ' s officers at Fort Vancouver immediately coordinated and dispatched a relief effort , including food , tobacco , and clothing . Lt . Howison soon returned to Fort Vancouver , where he acquired additional supplies and ultimately chartered the Hudson ' s Bay Company schooner , " Cadboro " , on 16 November ; reaching San Francisco , California on 27 January 1847 . A court of inquiry absolved Lt . Neil M . Howison of all blame for the loss of his ship . Artifacts . Several artifacts associated with the wrecked schooner are on public display in Oregon . An officer ' s sword , allegedly from an officer of the " Shark " , is on display at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria , Oregon , along with portions of a rock , known as Shark Rock , featuring words and dates believed to be etched on by survivors of the wreck . The schooner ' s capstan and one carronade are viewable at the Cannon Beach Historical Society in Cannon Beach , Oregon . The carronade was discovered four or five miles north of Arch Cape in 1898 , and is what gave Cannon Beach its name . On 16 February 2008 , two more carronades believed to have been a part of the USS " Shark " were discovered on the beach near Arch Cape , Oregon .