The first USS Patapsco was a sloop in the United States Navy.

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History
United States
Name	Patapsco
Namesake	Patapsco River
Launched	20 June 1799
Fate	Sold June 1801
General characteristics
Tonnage	380
Length	87 ft (27 m)
Beam	29 ft (8.8 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft (3.7 m)
Complement	180
Armament	20 guns

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Patapsco was launched as Chesapeake 20 June 1799 by Captain De Rochbruns, and renamed Patapsco between 10 October and 14 November apparently to free the name for the frigate Chesapeake, commissioned in 1800. Patapsco is the name of a river in Maryland.

Commanded by Captain Henry Geddes, she escorted the brig Acteon to New Orleans, carrying General James Wilkinson and his staff to that port. She then cruised in the West Indies, protecting American shipping from French cruisers and privateers during the Quasi-War with France. Operating in Commodore Silas Talbot's squadron, she captured schooner Cecilia after a five-hour chase 28 May 1800. On 7 August she captured French letter of marque Dorade. In the autumn she also engaged Louisa Bridge but the schooner escaped.

She aided Merrimack and a British frigate in defeating a French invasion of Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles, before returning to Philadelphia in December. She was sold there in June 1801.

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.