The Princeton Disaster
The USS Princeton was launched on September 5, 1843. It was considered a state of the art warship for its time. It was the first American ship to have screw propellers, as well as 42-pound carronades (short-barreled guns that fired large shot at short range.) The ship also boasted two long guns, the "Oregon" and the "Peacemaker". The latter was the largest naval gun in the world at the time. On February 28, 1844 the Princeton was brought to Alexandria, Virginia for a display of its naval power. A number of special guests attended the show, including President John Tyler and his cabinet, former First Lady Dolley Madison, Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, as well as 400 other dignitaries. Refreshments were served in salon below deck.
Captain Robert Stockton, Commander of the Princeton, was excited to prove the Princeton's speed and weaponry and he agreed to a request to fire the Peacemaker in front of many onlookers. The two big guns were mounted onto the Princeton. The Oregon had undergone intensive testing and had been reinforced due to cracks that were detrimental to the integrity of the cannon. Stockton had rushed the second cannon (the Peacemaker) and mounted it without much testing. The Peacemaker had been fired only five times before certifying it as accurate and fully proofed.
Thomas Gilmer, the Secretary of the Navy, urged everyone to go upstairs for another demonstration of the guns. As the ship passed Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, Gilmer proposed that the gun fire as a tribute to Washington. Fortunately for President Tyler, he was delayed down below when another dignitary stopped him for a drunk and Tyler proposed a toast to Captain Stockton and to the big guns.
The gun's co-designer, John Ericsson, argued with Captain Stockton, who wanted to demonstrate the new weapon. Ericsson feared that the Peacemaker had not been sufficiently tested. As the Peacemaker fired one last time it exploded instantly sending hot metal around the deck, killing 6, and injuring 20. Tyler was halfway up the ladder to the upper deck when the explosion occurred. The dead included Secretary Gilmer, Secretary of State Abel Upshur, New York State Senator David Gardiner, Captain Beverly Kennon, the Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Virgil Maxcy of Maryland, and a slave named Armistead. Gardiner was the father of 24 year old Julia Gardiner, who later married President Tyler. Upon hearing of the death of her father, Julia Gardiner fainted into President Tyler's arms.
Had John Tyler been above deck at the time of the explosion, he likely would have been killed, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Willie Person Mangum would have been elevated to the Presidency.
The Peacemaker disaster led to for a reexamination of the process used to make cannons and to the development of new techniques that allowed for cannons which were more structurally sound.
Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur was succeeded by John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, while Secretary of the Navy Gilmer was succeeded by John Y. Mason of Virginia. As Secretary of State, Calhoun aggressively pursued the annexation of Texas, something that may not have happened on Upshur's watch has he survived.
Tyler comforted Julia Gardiner in her grief and the couple continued their secret engagement. Tyler had proposed marriage to her in 1843 at the George Washington Ball. Because of the circumstances surrounding her father's death, the couple agreed to marry with a minimum of celebration. Four months later, on June 26, 1844, the President snuck away to New York City, where the nuptials were performed by the Right Reverend Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk, fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, at the Church of the Ascension. President Tyler was aged 54 and Julia was 30 years younger, just 24.
Captain Robert Stockton, Commander of the Princeton, was excited to prove the Princeton's speed and weaponry and he agreed to a request to fire the Peacemaker in front of many onlookers. The two big guns were mounted onto the Princeton. The Oregon had undergone intensive testing and had been reinforced due to cracks that were detrimental to the integrity of the cannon. Stockton had rushed the second cannon (the Peacemaker) and mounted it without much testing. The Peacemaker had been fired only five times before certifying it as accurate and fully proofed.
Thomas Gilmer, the Secretary of the Navy, urged everyone to go upstairs for another demonstration of the guns. As the ship passed Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, Gilmer proposed that the gun fire as a tribute to Washington. Fortunately for President Tyler, he was delayed down below when another dignitary stopped him for a drunk and Tyler proposed a toast to Captain Stockton and to the big guns.
The gun's co-designer, John Ericsson, argued with Captain Stockton, who wanted to demonstrate the new weapon. Ericsson feared that the Peacemaker had not been sufficiently tested. As the Peacemaker fired one last time it exploded instantly sending hot metal around the deck, killing 6, and injuring 20. Tyler was halfway up the ladder to the upper deck when the explosion occurred. The dead included Secretary Gilmer, Secretary of State Abel Upshur, New York State Senator David Gardiner, Captain Beverly Kennon, the Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Virgil Maxcy of Maryland, and a slave named Armistead. Gardiner was the father of 24 year old Julia Gardiner, who later married President Tyler. Upon hearing of the death of her father, Julia Gardiner fainted into President Tyler's arms.
Had John Tyler been above deck at the time of the explosion, he likely would have been killed, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Willie Person Mangum would have been elevated to the Presidency.
The Peacemaker disaster led to for a reexamination of the process used to make cannons and to the development of new techniques that allowed for cannons which were more structurally sound.
Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur was succeeded by John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, while Secretary of the Navy Gilmer was succeeded by John Y. Mason of Virginia. As Secretary of State, Calhoun aggressively pursued the annexation of Texas, something that may not have happened on Upshur's watch has he survived.
Tyler comforted Julia Gardiner in her grief and the couple continued their secret engagement. Tyler had proposed marriage to her in 1843 at the George Washington Ball. Because of the circumstances surrounding her father's death, the couple agreed to marry with a minimum of celebration. Four months later, on June 26, 1844, the President snuck away to New York City, where the nuptials were performed by the Right Reverend Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk, fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, at the Church of the Ascension. President Tyler was aged 54 and Julia was 30 years younger, just 24.