USS Madison

USS Madison may refer to:

USS Madison (DD-425)

USS Madison (DD-425) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She the third Navy ship of that name, and the first named for Commander James J. Madison (1888–1922), who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I.

Madison was laid down on 19 September 1938 by the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 20 October 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Ethel Madison Meyn, widow of Commander Madison; and commissioned on 6 August 1940, Lieutenant Commander T. E. Boyce in command.

Pre World War II service

Prior to the entry of the United States into World War II, the destroyer saw over a year’s service opposing the spread of Axis power. In addition to Neutrality Patrol in the Caribbean and North Atlantic convoy duty, she was escort on two diplomatic voyages in January 1941. She escorted Tuscaloosa as the cruiser carried Admiral William D. Leahy to Portugal en route to France to become Ambassador to the Vichy France Government, where he was a reminder of both the neutrality and the power of the United States. In August, she escorted Augusta, carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Argentia Bay, she rendezvoused with HMS Prince of Wales, carrying British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

USS Madison (1812)

USS Madison was a U.S. Navy corvette (or sloop) built during the War of 1812 for use on the Great Lakes.

USS Madison was built at Sackets Harbor, New York by Henry Eckford. She was launched on Lake Ontario on 26 November 1812, Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliot in command. She was the first U.S. corvette launched on the lake.

Madison departed Sackets Harbor on 25 April 1813 as flagship of Commodore Isaac Chauncey. She saw active duty in the War of 1812 as part of Chauncey’s Lake Ontario Squadron. Madison participated in the capture of York, now Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in April 1813; the attacks on Fort George in May 1813; and engagements with British squadrons on Lake Ontario from 7–11 August 1813, and from 11–22 September 1813.

After the end of the war, Madison, a fast ship-rigged vessel that was not considered very safe to operate, was laid up at Sackets Harbor until sold in 1825.

Notes

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.