How did USS Constitution earn the nickname Old Ironsides?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

1812, War of — War of 1812 Battle between the frigates HMS *Shannon* and USS *Chesapeake* off Boston during the War of 1812; detail of a lithograph Louis Haghe after by J.C. Schetky.

The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812 following its engagement with the British frigate Guerriere on August 19, 1812.1

According to naval tradition, American sailors observed that British cannonballs were failing to penetrate the ship's sturdy oak sides, leading them to dub the vessel "Old Ironsides." This victory under the command of Captain Isaac Hull cemented the ship's place in American naval history. The nickname was later popularized by Oliver Wendell Holmes, whose poem "Old Ironsides" helped spark public support to save the ship from being broken up in 1830.1