USS St. Lawrence was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was based on the same plans as USS Brandywine. Although St. Lawrence was laid down in 1826 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, she remained uncompleted on the ways until work on her, interrupted by a shortage of funds, was resumed during the Mexican-American War. The frigate was finally launched early in 1848 and commissioned on 17 August of that year, Captain Hiram Paulding in command.