The USS Constitution was one of the greatest ships in naval history. Commissioned in Boston in October, 1797, she was one of the first of this young nation's battle frigates, soon to distinguish herself in combat against the Barbary pirates in 1803 and 1804. Later, in the War of 1812, she earned the sobriquet Old Ironsides because she seemed impervious to the British cannons. She was nearly destroyed in 1830 for unseaworthiness, but was saved by the American public. Here is her life story, vividly recorded, which includes some of the greatest feats of warfare and some of the most inspiring commanders in naval history.