The USS Franklin was a United States Navy screw frigate launched on September 17, 1864, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. Built in part from materials salvaged from the previous USS Franklin, a ship-of-the-line scrapped in 1852, she was commissioned on June 3, 1867, in Boston, Massachusetts. Her construction included a figurehead crafted by Woodbury Gerrish prior to her launching. Designed as a steam-powered sailing vessel, Franklin served prominently in the late 19th century. She was designated as the flagship of the European Squadron twice, first under Admiral David Glasgow Farragut from 1867 to 1868, and later under Rear Admiral William Radford from 1869 to 1871. During her first European Squadron deployment, she departed New York City on June 28, 1867, and returned on November 10, 1868. Her second tour began in January 1869 and lasted until September 1871, after which she was decommissioned at Boston. Recommissioned in December 1873, Franklin joined the North Atlantic Squadron and once again served as flagship, notably participating in American naval operations in European waters until September 1876. During this period, Franklin was involved in notable events, including the rescue of shipmates from drowning in Lisbon, Portugal, for which two sailors received the Medal of Honor. She also played a role in protecting U.S. interests during the Salonika Incident and transported the fugitive William M. "Boss" Tweed from Spain back to New York City in late 1876. On March 2, 1877, Franklin was placed out of commission at Norfolk, Virginia, but was recommissioned immediately as a receiving ship for Naval Station Norfolk. She served in this capacity until her final decommissioning on October 14, 1915. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register shortly thereafter and sold. Her figurehead was preserved and donated to the U.S. Naval Home, later moving to the Franklin Institute, where it remains on display. Franklin’s long service history highlights her significance as a flagship during key naval deployments and as a symbol of post-Civil War American naval presence.

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