USS Relief (1836)

USS Relief (1836) was a United States Navy stores ship commissioned in 1836. Designed for long-range logistical support, she served as a critical supply vessel for the United States Exploring Expedition under Charles Wilkes and later supported various U.S. Navy squadrons. Her career spanned over two decades, operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea before being sold in 1856.

Construction and design

The USS *Relief* was constructed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard under the supervision of naval constructor Samuel Humphreys. Launched on 14 September 1836, she was a purpose-built stores ship, designed with a large cargo capacity to carry provisions, ammunition, and spare parts for extended naval operations far from home ports. Her design reflected the growing needs of the United States Navy for global reach, featuring a robust hull and ample storage below decks. The vessel was barque-rigged, a common configuration for auxiliary ships of the era, balancing cargo space with manageable sailing characteristics. Her construction coincided with the planning of the ambitious United States Exploring Expedition, for which she was specifically intended to serve as the primary supply vessel.

Service history

Commissioned in December 1836 under Commander John B. Nicholson, the *Relief*’s first major assignment was with the United States Exploring Expedition, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. Departing Hampton Roads in August 1838, the squadron conducted extensive surveys in the Pacific Ocean, including the Oregon Coast, Samoa, and the Antarctic. The *Relief*, however, proved somewhat slow and cumbersome for the demanding exploratory work, and was detached from the main squadron in Peru in 1839. She was sent to Sydney and later returned to the United States via the Cape of Good Hope, completing a circumnavigation. Following the expedition, the *Relief* was assigned to the Home Squadron, operating primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies. In the late 1840s and early 1850s, she served with the African Slave Trade Patrol, and later with the Mediterranean Squadron, supplying U.S. naval forces stationed overseas.

Commanding officers

Command of the *Relief* was held by several notable U.S. Navy officers throughout her career. Her first commander was John B. Nicholson, who oversaw her fitting out and initial service with the United States Exploring Expedition. During that voyage, command passed to Lieutenant A. K. Long when Nicholson fell ill. Following the expedition, subsequent commanding officers included Lieutenant George W. Rodgers during her service with the Home Squadron. In the final years of her active service, while operating with the Mediterranean Squadron, she was commanded by officers such as Lieutenant John J. Almy. These officers were responsible for managing the ship's crew and ensuring the successful delivery of vital supplies to various U.S. naval forces across the globe.

Fate

After nearly twenty years of service, the USS *Relief* was surveyed and found unfit for further naval duty. She was decommissioned and sold at public auction in New York City on 21 October 1856. Her sale marked the end of a career that had supported some of the United States Navy's most significant early global operations, from exploration to anti-piracy and squadron support. Following her sale into merchant service, she was renamed the *John Gilpin* and reportedly engaged in the China trade before being lost at sea, with her final fate remaining unrecorded in official naval archives.

Category:1836 ships Category:Ships of the United States Exploring Expedition Category:Store ships of the United States Navy