Moses Gulesian, Armenian Immigrant saves USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides"

There is much celebration around the recent dry dock and repairs to the naval warship "Old Ironsides / USS Constitution and her exploits in the War of 1812. However, if not for the efforts of an Armenian immigrant, "Old Ironsides" would have been scraped at the turn of the 20th Century.Therefore, it is only fitting to recall Moses Gulesian, a Boston Armenian immigrant who rallied a nation to save “Old Ironsides” from the scrap yard.  

Read Boston Globe Story  Old Ironsides to return to the water Sunday

 Moses H. Gulesian, a native of Marash, is a shining symbol of New World success. After arriving penniless in New York harbor in 1883, he moved to Worcester and eventually settled in Boston where he opened a successful copperworks factory. 

In 1900, he was commissioned by the state to replace the wooden lion and unicorn symbols of the Old State House with copper ones--the originals incidentally were installed later on his home in Chestnut Hill. Today Gulesian is best remembered for his efforts to save the U.S.S. Constitution, commonly known as "Old Ironsides," the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy and the champion of the War of 1812.

In 1905, Gulesian, overtaken by a strong sense of patriotism, sent the following telegram to Naval Secretary J. Bonaparte, "Will give ten thousand dollars for the Constitution, Old Ironsides. Will you sell?" The offer made national headlines and one reporter suggested that the ship might worry the "Sultan" of Turkey if it was sold to an Armenian. "It would be a good joke if they could be led to believe that the old frigate might steal out of Boston some night and sail for the Mediterranean to bombard some of the unprotected ports of Turkey," Gulesian replied. Gulesian's efforts rallied public support and saved the ship.

For his role, Gulesian was elected President of the Old Ironsides Association and later he would be given the distinction of becoming the first foreign-born member of the Sons of the American Revolution. 

 

Read The Legend of Louisa Baker. First Woman Marine Sailor, USS Constitution, War 1812

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