The Louisa was a merchant ship out of Philadelphia, United States during 1800.

During Quasi-War

Quasi-War

The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Pirate Wars, or the Half-War.-Background:The Kingdom of France had been a...

 with the French, the Louisa carried a letter of marque

Letter of marque

In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...

 allowing her to act as a privateer

Privateer

A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...

. She was armed with twelve six-pound guns and manned by a crew of thirty (including officers).

In August 1800 the ship was attacked off Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...

 by French privateers from Algeciras

Algeciras

Algeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, and is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar . Port of Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Europe and in the world in three categories: container,...

. During the battle, the captain, Thomas Hoggard (Thomas Haggard), was wounded and taken below to his cabin. The Louisa eventually fought off the attack and Hoggard was taken ashore at Gibraltar where he died.

The USS Haggard (DD-555)

USS Haggard (DD-555)

USS Haggard was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy named for Captain Haggard of the Louisa, who fought in the Quasi-War....

was named in honor of the actions of Louisa's captain and crew off Gibraltar.

Other Louisas

• Louisa. Privateer out of Baltimore, War of 1812.
• Louisa. Privateer out of Buenos Aires, taken over by crew, October 1818, to be used for piracy.
• Louisa. Whaling schooner, 35 tons. Built at Hobart, 1834, foundered near Bruny Island, 22 October 1836. All hands lost.