USS Chicago (1885)

USS Chicago (1885) was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. Commissioned in 1889, she served as the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron and later the South Atlantic Squadron, playing a significant role in the transition of the U.S. Navy from the Age of Sail to the Steel Navy. Her long career included diplomatic missions, fleet reviews, and service as a training ship before she was ultimately decommissioned in 1923.

Construction and Career

The contract for the construction of USS *Chicago* was awarded to the John Roach & Sons shipyard in Chester, Pennsylvania. Her keel was laid down in 1883, and she was launched on 5 December 1885, sponsored by Edith Cleborne, daughter of Navy Surgeon Cuthbert J. Cleborne. Following the resolution of contractual disputes between John Roach and the United States Department of the Navy, the cruiser was finally commissioned on 17 April 1889 under the command of Captain Henry B. Robeson. Her construction was part of the ambitious naval modernization program championed by Secretary of the Navy William H. Hunt and advanced by the Naval Advisory Board.

Design and Specifications

*Chicago* was a classic example of an early American protected cruiser, designed by the Naval Advisory Board under the guidance of Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney. She displaced 4,500 tons and measured 342 feet 2 inches in length, with a beam of 48 feet 3 inches and a draft of 19 feet. Propulsion was provided by two horizontal compound steam engines driving twin screws, fed by four double-ended boilers, which could achieve a top speed of 14 knots. Her primary armor was a curved protective deck, 2.5 to 4 inches thick, designed to shield her engines and magazines. Her original armament consisted of four 8-inch guns, eight 6-inch guns, two 5-inch guns, and two 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns.

Service History

After commissioning, *Chicago* was immediately assigned as the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral John G. Walker. In 1890, she represented the United States at the International Naval Review held in New York City for the World's Columbian Exposition. In 1893, she transferred to the European Squadron, visiting ports such as Southampton, Cherbourg, and Kiel, where she participated in ceremonies commemorating the opening of the Kiel Canal. During the Spanish–American War, she served with the Flying Squadron under Commodore Winfield Scott Schley and later patrolled the Florida Keys. In the early 20th century, her duties included serving as flagship for the South Atlantic Squadron and, from 1908, as a training ship for Naval Militia units on the Great Lakes.

Fate

Following years of service as a stationary training vessel, *Chicago* was renamed *USS Alton* in 1928 to free her original name for a new Northampton-class cruiser. She was ultimately decommissioned for the final time on 30 September 1923. After being used as a barracks ship at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, the venerable cruiser was sold for scrap on 15 May 1936 to the M. Black Company of Norfolk, Virginia. Her dismantling marked the end of one of the longest-serving ships of the early Steel Navy.

Legacy

USS *Chicago* is remembered as a pivotal vessel in the modernization of the American Navy. She was one of the famed ABCD ships (along with *Atlanta*, *Boston*, and *Dolphin*) that heralded the new era of naval power. Her lengthy operational life provided training for a generation of sailors, including future Admiral William H. Standley. The ship's bell and other artifacts are preserved at the National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C., serving as tangible links to this transformative period in United States naval history.

Category:Protected cruisers of the United States Category:1885 ships Category:Ships built in Pennsylvania