HMS Herald (1806)
Encyclopedia
HMS Herald was an 18-gun ship-sloop
of the Cormorant class
in the Royal Navy
, launched in 1806 at Littlehampton
. In 1810 she was reclassed as a 20-gun sixth rate ship (but without being re-armed), and again re-rated as 24 guns in 1817, just before she was broken up.
in the early stages of the Adriatic campaign. Herald attacked French shipping off the island and later in the year cruised off the Dardanelles
before returning to the Adriatic off Otranto
, attacking a number of coastal merchant vessels with success.
On 25 October 1807, Herald was off Otranto
when she found an armed trabaccolo
anchored under the fortress. Despite resistance, Herald's boats cut out the vessel, which turned out to be the French privateer César, armed with four 6-pounders. César was sailing from Ancona
to Corfu
with a cargo of rice and flour. All but four of the crew escaped. Herald suffered four men wounded.
In January 1808 Commander George Jackson took command. Herald operated off the Italian coasts, capturing or destroying numerous French and Italian merchant ships during the year.
In August 1810 Herald was re-rated as a 20-gun post ship
, though Jackson did not receive his promotion until one year later, in August 1811. In the meantime, on 9 May 1811, boats from Herald and cut out four coasting vessels from the town of Monastarrachi.
In May 1813 Captain Clement Milward took command of Herald off Halifax, Nova Scotia
. Operating off the American coast during the War of 1812
, Herald captured one English, one French and four American vessels during 1813, all of which she sent to Nassau, New Providence.
On 14 January 1814, Herald captured the American ship Adolphus, and shared the prize money, by agreement, with and . At the end of 1814, Herald was at the Battle of New Orleans
. First, she was among the vessels sharing in the proceeds of the capture of five American gunboats at the Battle of Lake Borgne
. The British took the five gunboats into service under the names Ambush
, Firebrand
, Destruction
, Harlequin
, and Eagle
. Then, with and several other British vessels, Herald went up the Mississippi River
to create a diversion.
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
of the Cormorant class
Cormorant class ship-sloop
The Cormorant class were built as a 16-gun class of ship-sloops for the Royal Navy, although an extra 2 guns were added soon after completion.-Design:...
in 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...
, launched in 1806 at Littlehampton
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
. In 1810 she was reclassed as a 20-gun sixth rate ship (but without being re-armed), and again re-rated as 24 guns in 1817, just before she was broken up.
Adriatic
Herald was commissioned in March 1806 under Captain G. M. Hony. On 18 May he sailed her to the Mediterranean, where proceeded to cruise off CorfuCorfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
in the early stages of the Adriatic campaign. Herald attacked French shipping off the island and later in the year cruised off the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
before returning to the Adriatic off Otranto
Otranto
Otranto is a town and comune in the province of Lecce , in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses.It is located on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, to which the city gives its name, connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and Italy with Albania...
, attacking a number of coastal merchant vessels with success.
On 25 October 1807, Herald was off Otranto
Otranto
Otranto is a town and comune in the province of Lecce , in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses.It is located on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, to which the city gives its name, connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and Italy with Albania...
when she found an armed trabaccolo
Trabaccolo
The Trabaccoló, Trabaccalo, or Trabakul, is a type of Adriatic Sea sailing coaster. The name comes from the word trabacca, which means tent, which in turn recalls the vessel's sails. The trabaccoló was a typical Venetian boat-form that dates back to the first half of the 15th Century, and which...
anchored under the fortress. Despite resistance, Herald's boats cut out the vessel, which turned out to be the French privateer César, armed with four 6-pounders. César was sailing from Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
to Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
with a cargo of rice and flour. All but four of the crew escaped. Herald suffered four men wounded.
In January 1808 Commander George Jackson took command. Herald operated off the Italian coasts, capturing or destroying numerous French and Italian merchant ships during the year.
In August 1810 Herald was re-rated as a 20-gun post ship
Post ship
Post ship was a designation used in the Royal Navy during the Age of Sail to describe a ship of the sixth-rate that was smaller than a frigate , but by virtue of being a rated ship , had to have as its captain a post captain rather than a lieutenant or commander...
, though Jackson did not receive his promotion until one year later, in August 1811. In the meantime, on 9 May 1811, boats from Herald and cut out four coasting vessels from the town of Monastarrachi.
War of 1812
On 4 July 1812, Jackson sailed Herald for Jamaica. There she captured the American ship Venus on 17 December.In May 1813 Captain Clement Milward took command of Herald off Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. Operating off the American coast during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Herald captured one English, one French and four American vessels during 1813, all of which she sent to Nassau, New Providence.
- English vessel Lune, in ballast, taken June 3;
- French vessel Vengeance, carrying wine, silks, &c. taken June 27;
- American vessel Adeline Cecilia, in ballast, taken August 13, 1813;
- American vessel Jane, carrying cotton and sugar, taken December |3, 1813;
- American vessel Eliza and Ann, carrying sundries, taken December 21; and
- American vessel Liberty, carrying sundries, taken December 23.
On 14 January 1814, Herald captured the American ship Adolphus, and shared the prize money, by agreement, with and . At the end of 1814, Herald was at the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
. First, she was among the vessels sharing in the proceeds of the capture of five American gunboats at the Battle of Lake Borgne
Battle of Lake Borgne
The Battle of Lake Borgne was a naval battle between the Royal Navy and the United States Navy in the American South theatre of the War of 1812. It occurred on 14 December 1814 on Lake Borgne and was part of the British advance on New Orleans.-Background:...
. The British took the five gunboats into service under the names Ambush
HMS Ambush
Three vessels of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ambush., or Ambush No. 5, was an American gunboat , launched in 1805, captured at the Battle of Lake Borgne in 1814, and sold in 1815....
, Firebrand
HMS Firebrand
Eleven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Firebrand. was an 8-gun fireship launched in 1694 and wrecked in 1707. was an 8-gun fireship, previously the civilian vessel Charming Jenny. She was purchased in 1739 and sold in 1743....
, Destruction
HMS Destruction
At least two vessels of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Destruction. was a Convulsion-class bomb vessel launched in 1804 and sold in 1806. was an American gunboat captured at the Battle of Lake Borgne on 14 December 1814. She remained in service until at least 4 June 1815...
, Harlequin
HMS Harlequin
Five vessels of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Harlequin. was a schooner of 14 guns, purchased in 1796 and still listed in 1802. was a Cruizer-class brig-sloop of 18 guns, launched in 1813 and sold in Jamaica in 1829. was an American gunboat captured at the Battle of Lake Borgne on 14 December...
, and Eagle
HMS Eagle
Eighteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Eagle, after the eagle.*HMS Eagle was an ex-merchantman purchased in 1592 and in use as a careening hulk. She was sold in 1683....
. Then, with and several other British vessels, Herald went up the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to create a diversion.