USS Dolphin (1836)

The USS Dolphin was a schooner commissioned in the United States Navy in 1836. It was the fourth ship to bear the name "Dolphin" in US naval service. It played a notable role in surveying and exploration, particularly in the Pacific Ocean.

The ship was constructed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and launched on June 16, 1836. Commanded by Lieutenant Percival Drayton, the Dolphin was initially assigned to the Brazil Squadron, patrolling the South American coast to protect American commerce and whaling interests.

In 1839, the Dolphin was transferred to the Pacific Squadron. It then participated in a significant surveying expedition under the command of Captain Charles Wilkes, known as the United States Exploring Expedition (also called the Wilkes Expedition). During this expedition (1838-1842), the Dolphin explored and surveyed portions of the Pacific Northwest, the Pacific Islands (including Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga), and the Antarctic continent. The Dolphin contributed to the mapping of the Pacific and the collection of scientific data in various fields, including botany, zoology, and geology.

Following the Wilkes Expedition, the Dolphin continued to serve in the Pacific Squadron. In 1855, it was decommissioned and sold. The exact date and circumstances of its final disposition are not definitively documented. The USS Dolphin (1836) is remembered for its significant contributions to American naval history and its role in the exploration and surveying of the Pacific Ocean.