The USS Baltimore was a 20-gun naval vessel constructed in 1798 by Joseph Caverly in Baltimore, Maryland. Originally named Adriana, the ship was purchased by the U.S. Navy with funds donated by Baltimore citizens on May 23, 1798, and was subsequently renamed Baltimore. She was a brigantine-style ship with a notably low gun deck, which, according to a letter from Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, rendered her guns largely ineffective in good wind conditions. Commissioned under Captain Isaac Phillips, USS Baltimore was tasked early in her service with convoy duties. In August 1798, she joined the USS Constellation in escorting merchant ships from Havana, Cuba. During this mission, she encountered a British squadron off Havana that included HMS Carnatic, HMS Thunder, HMS Queen, HMS Maidstone, and HMS Greyhound. During this encounter, 55 of Baltimore’s crew were impressed by the British, though most were later returned. This incident fueled anti-British sentiment in the United States and led to Captain Phillips’ dismissal for allowing an "outrage to the American flag." Throughout 1799 and 1800, USS Baltimore was active in capturing prizes and recapturing American vessels. Notable captures included French ships L'Esperance, Le Bullant Jeunesse, and Brilliant Jeunesse, as well as the privateer "Le Bullant Jeunesse" and the Polacre "Emmanuel." She also engaged in combat with French vessels, damaging one and temporarily breaking off engagement to avoid losing a prize ship. Her operational area extended to the Caribbean, with her activities centered around the West Indies. By late 1800, due to her deteriorating condition and the expiration of her crew’s enlistments, she was ordered home. She arrived at Norfolk and was subsequently ordered to Baltimore. In November 1800, Secretary Stoddert ordered her to be sold, and she was sold in Philadelphia in 1801. USS Baltimore played a significant role during the Quasi-War with France, notably carrying the ratified peace treaty to France, marking her as an important vessel in early American naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.