USS Hornet (1805, brig)
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| Missing image USS_Hornet_(1805,_brig).jpg Artist's depiction of Hornet's foundering | |
| Career | 
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| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | |
| Launched: | 28 July 1805 |
| Commissioned: | 18 October 1805 |
| Fate: | sunk in storm, 29 September 1829 |
| Struck: | |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 440 tons |
| Length: | 106 feet 9 inches |
| Beam: | 31 feet 5 inches |
| Draft: | 14 feet |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Speed: | |
| Range: | |
| Depth: | |
| Complement: | |
| Armament: | eighteen 32-pounder cannon and two 18-pounder |
The third USS Hornet was a brig-rigged sloop of war in the United States Navy.
Hornet was launched on 28 July 1805 in Baltimore and commissioned on 18 October. She fought in the War of 1812 under command of James Lawrence, who gave the Navy their famous motto "don't give up the ship."
She captured the privateer Dolphin on 9 July,1812 although the ship was recaptured again shortly afterwards. Hornet assisted in the blockade of HMS Bonne Citoyenne in the harbor at Salvador, Brazil and sank HMS Peacock (18) on 24 February, 1813. On 23 March, 1815 Hornet captured HMS Penguin in a short battle off Tristan da Cunha. This was one of several naval engagements which took place after the war had ended. A month later, on 27 April, she engaged the HMS Cornwallis (74) having mistakenly identified her as a cargo vessel. However, by throwing overboard boats, guns and other equipment she managed to build up her speed to escape unharmed.
Following the war, she took part in anti-piracy patrols in the Caribbean. Hornet sank in a storm off Tampico, Mexico on 29 September, 1829 with the loss of all on board.
This article includes information collected from the Naval Historical Center.
See USS Hornet for other ships of this name.