The theme picture is a painting of the HMS Belvidera (brown hull) fleeing an American fleet under Commodore John Rodgers, whose flagship, USS President (black hull), is leading the chase. 

Nicknamed "Queen of the Frigates", President was a sister ship of the vaunted USS Constitution, one of Washington's six frigates, constructed in New York City, and launched in 1800. (President's design was slightly altered, based on experience gained in designing the other 2 heavy frigates of the class, Constitution, and USS United States.) 

President was the fastest heavy frigate of the class, as Constitution was considered rather slow, and United States accurately bore the nickname "Old Wagon." 

Before Commodore William Bainbridge took command of the USS Constitution (in preparation for the cruise in which he would famously defeat HMS Java), he offered Commodore Rodgers (who commanded President for much of the War of 1812) $5,000 to swap ships. (This took place in 1812, and that amount of money would be worth $97,849.62 in today's money!)

Bainbridge "preferred to have command of the President, which he thought was 'one of the finest ships in the world.'" (“The Constitution and the Java.” 1812: The Navy's War, by George Daughan, Basic Books, 2013, pp. 138–138.) Rodgers wisely refused to switch ships. 

Rodgers' and President's only moment of glory occurred before the war, in 1811, in the controversial Little Belt Affair. (Basically a reverse of the Chesepeake-Leopard Incident) During the War of 1812, Rodgers made 4 cruises with the President (once sailing all the way around the British Isles), taking 13 prizes. Although a seemingly unglamorous record, it actually contributed more to the war effort than the famous frigate duels, as the Royal Navy was forced to divert many warships to search for him. Although he never fought a great frigate action like he so desperately craved, Rodgers always brought President, the "Queen of the Frigates," safely home.