Franklin at the forefront Franklin, launched in 1815 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, rated as a 74, has passed by Portsmouth to bring the new minister, Richard Rush, 37 years old, succeeding John Quincy Adams to negotiate a treaty with Britain, to settle the borders with Canada in particular. It has given the opportunity for British officers to examine this astonishing ship. "She is built of seasoned oak, admirably put together, and, like the generality of Philadelphia ships,