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HMS Badger (1777)
Encyclopedia
HMS Badger was a brig
in service with the Royal Navy
in the late eighteenth century. She is famous as the first Royal Navy ship to be commanded by Horatio Nelson
.
. She was previously an American merchant vessel, the Defence, and had been purchased in Jamaica
in November 1777 for the sum of £1,540. She replaced an earlier HMS Badger that had been bought the previous year but condemned as unfit for service in 1777. Little is known about her specifications, but she probably carried 12 guns, and was apparently 'capable of carrying 16 guns'.
Her first commander was Commander Michael Everett, who brought with him the crew of the earlier Badger. On 8 December 1778 the commander of the North America and West Indies Station, Sir Peter Parker
, transferred a young lieutenant
named Horatio Nelson, who had previously been serving aboard his flagship
HMS Bristol
, to the command of the Badger. This was Nelson's first experience of command of one of the Royal Navy's commissioned warships, and he duly took command in January 1778. Nelson spent 1778 and half of 1779 cruising the Caribbean
, ranging off the Spanish colonies in Central America in search of prizes. Nelson did not have much success, but on 11 June 1779 Parker promoted Nelson to Post-Captain
and gave him the command of the 28-gun frigate
HMS Hinchinbroke. On 20 June Nelson duly handed Badger over to Commander Cuthbert Collingwood
.
Collingwood commanded Badger until early 1780, and in March that year he was succeeded by Commander Samuel Walker. Walker was replaced in September that year by Commander Richard Storey, who was commander in an acting capacity. It had been planned that Commander Donald Sutherland would take over command, but he had died on 9 September, after only two days in command. In December 1780 Commander James Cornwallis took over. Badger was temporarily under Lieutenant William Sykes between January 1781 and possibly March 1782. Badger was paid off at Jamaica
in May 1782, and was sold there in June the following year for £2,050.
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
in service with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in the late eighteenth century. She is famous as the first Royal Navy ship to be commanded by Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
.
Career
The Badger was one of a number of ships purchased for service on the North America and West Indies Station during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. She was previously an American merchant vessel, the Defence, and had been purchased in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in November 1777 for the sum of £1,540. She replaced an earlier HMS Badger that had been bought the previous year but condemned as unfit for service in 1777. Little is known about her specifications, but she probably carried 12 guns, and was apparently 'capable of carrying 16 guns'.
Her first commander was Commander Michael Everett, who brought with him the crew of the earlier Badger. On 8 December 1778 the commander of the North America and West Indies Station, Sir Peter Parker
Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet was a British naval officer.-Naval career:Peter Parker was born probably in Ireland. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1743 and captain in 1747. In 1761, he took command of HMS Buckingham and helped cover operations on Belle Île...
, transferred a young lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
named Horatio Nelson, who had previously been serving aboard his flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
HMS Bristol
HMS Bristol (1775)
HMS Bristol was a fourth-rate ship with 50 guns, launched in 1775. During the American War of Independence, she was Sir Peter Parker's flagship during the attack on Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776 and was heavily damaged during the battle. Later in the war, she was stationed off Jamaica, and...
, to the command of the Badger. This was Nelson's first experience of command of one of the Royal Navy's commissioned warships, and he duly took command in January 1778. Nelson spent 1778 and half of 1779 cruising the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, ranging off the Spanish colonies in Central America in search of prizes. Nelson did not have much success, but on 11 June 1779 Parker promoted Nelson to Post-Captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
and gave him the command of the 28-gun frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Hinchinbroke. On 20 June Nelson duly handed Badger over to Commander Cuthbert Collingwood
Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood was an admiral of the Royal Navy, notable as a partner with Lord Nelson in several of the British victories of the Napoleonic Wars, and frequently as Nelson's successor in commands.-Early years:Collingwood was born in Newcastle upon Tyne...
.
Collingwood commanded Badger until early 1780, and in March that year he was succeeded by Commander Samuel Walker. Walker was replaced in September that year by Commander Richard Storey, who was commander in an acting capacity. It had been planned that Commander Donald Sutherland would take over command, but he had died on 9 September, after only two days in command. In December 1780 Commander James Cornwallis took over. Badger was temporarily under Lieutenant William Sykes between January 1781 and possibly March 1782. Badger was paid off at Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in May 1782, and was sold there in June the following year for £2,050.