USS Constitution’s Final Capture: A Naval Stand Against the Illegal Slave Trade Although the Emancipation Proclamation would not be signed until 1863—and slavery not officially abolished until 1865—the international slave trade was outlawed in 1808.  From 1853 to 1855, USS Constitution served as the flagship of the Africa Squadron, patrolling off the coast of West Africa.  The mission: to identify and stop illegal slave ships. On Nov. 3, 1853, Constitution captured one such vessel—the H.N. Gambrill, disguised as a schooner. It would be Constitution’s final capture, but one that endures in naval history as a proud contribution to the global fight for freedom. #OldIronsides #USNavy #NavalHeritage #AmericasNavy250