USS Missouri (BB-11), a Maine-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 24th state. Missouri was laid down on 7 February 1900 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 28 December 1901 sponsored by Mrs. Edson Fessenden Gallaudet, daughter of United States Senator Francis Marion Cockrell of Missouri, whose husband and commissioned on 1 December 1903, Captain William S. Cowles in command.