From 1843 to 1861, the United States, Great Britain, and other nations maintained naval squadrons off the coast of West Africa to enforce international agreements prohibiting the trans-Atlantic slave trade. USS Constitution served as flagship of the U.S. Africa Squadron from March 1853 to June 1855. During this deployment, she was commanded by Commander John Rudd under the overall leadership of Commodore Isaac Mayo. In November 1853, Constitution seized the schooner H.N. Gambrill after evidence indicated the vessel was preparing to engage in the illegal slave trade. The capture of H.N. Gambrill marked Constitution’s final seizure of another vessel in her active naval career. #USNavy #USSConstitution #OldIronsides #NavalHeritage #Sail250