An experimental investigation was conducted in a circular pipe to examine the influence of a transverse magnetic field on the structure of turbulent shear flow of a conducting fluid (mercury). In the present paper, part 1, mean velocity profiles, turbulence intensity profiles, velocity fluctuation spectra, axial pressure drop profiles, and skin friction data are presented which quantitatively exhibit the Hartmann effect and damping of the velocity fluctuations over a broad range of Reynolds numbers and magnetic fields. The results of heat transfer experiments will be reported by the authors in the following paper, part 2.