The USS George Washington, the first U.S. warship named after President George Washington was built as a merchant vessel at Providence, R.I., in 1793; purchased by the Congress at Providence 12 October 1798 from John Brown and John Francis for use in the developing undeclared naval war (the so-called Quasi-War) with France, and converted to a warship under the supervision of Captain Silas Talbot with Captain Patrick Fletcher in command. Ths ship's measurements were tonnage, 624 tons; length, 108 feet; beam, 32 feet 6 inches; depth of hold, 14'; complement, 220; armament, 24 9-pounders; 8 6-pounders.