USS Wasp and HMS Frolic, c. 1815Thomas Birch (1779-1851) Peabody Essex Museum

Salem in History, 2006

Peabody Essex MuseumSalem in History 2006

USSWasp and HMS Frolic, c. 1815Thomas Birch (1779-1851)PhiladelphiaOil on canvasMB486

H I S T O R I C A L C O N T E X T

Naval victories during theWar of 1812 were important for American pride and creating a greater sense ofnationalism. Detailed descriptions of battles were widely circulated, and survived. Therefore, we know muchabout this naval encounter :

Both vessels carried short-range weapons that typically make for poor aim under heavy winds, asthere was the day of the battle. However, after sixteen minutes, “the Wasp was badly cut up aloft,but her stouter scantlings minimized what damage she received below. Frolic was battered morebadly; her losses were heavy and her damage aloft was serious.”1

Captain Jacob Jones, master of the Wasp, prevailed. In 1813, the U.S. Congress awarded Jones with a medal.While this victory was widely lauded, only a few hours after the Frolic was defeated, the British 74-gun shipHMS Poitiers captured the USS Wasp.

A R T H I S T O R I C A L C O N T E X T

The artistic interpretations of naval engagements by Thomas Birch were well known and popular during theWar of 1812. He executed lively scenes with a sense of realism. Here, he included figures that heighten thedrama of the confrontation and must have sparked the imagination of proud viewers. Birch employed theatri-cal flair by using elements of the painting to “point” to the battling figures on both ships.The billowy forms ofthe clouds, the ship’s sails and the waves all seem to gesture toward the center while providing a sense ofmovement and drama. The artist also suggests to the viewer who will win this engagement; the British flag andbadly tattered sails of the HMS Frolic on the right foreshadow its defeat

SAMPLE GUIDING QUESTIONS• What can you see in this painting?• Can you tell by looking at the painting which ship represents the “winning” side? What clues mightsuggest this outcome?• Do you think the artist was present at the event and saw the battle first hand? If not, how might anartist learn about what happened during a battle?• If everyone on board the ship gave an account of what happened, do you think those descriptionswould be exactly the same? Why might people have a different point of view about what happened?What does this suggest to you about looking at different sources when trying to learn about anhistorical event?• Why do you think people would have been interested in reading about this battle or seeing a paintingbased on this event?

SUGGESTED LEARNING ACTIVITIES• This activity is to be done in pairs and will help students gain a better understanding of how point ofview can help interpretation of “facts.” One student describes a battle scene (or another depiction ofan historic event) and the second student draws what he or she believes is a representation of thescene. Each pair then shares their results with the rest of the class.• Compare the scene on a medal presented to Captain Jones in recognition of his victory with thepainting by Thomas Birch. Online at: http://www.saleminhistory.org/USandWorld/1812/primarysources.htm

2003 Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks: 5.32, USI.26

1 C.S. Forester, The Age of Fighting Sail. (Sandwich, MA: Chapman Billies, 1956): 101.