HMS Meleager (1785)
Encyclopedia
HMS Meleager was a 32 gun frigate built in 1785 by Greaves and Nickolson
at the Quarry House yard in Frindsbury
, Kent
, England
. She was named after Meleager
, who could have been a Macedonian officer of distinction in the service of Alexander the Great, or Meleager
, a character from Greek mythology
.
took command of Meleager in 1790. In 1793 Lieutenant Thomas Masterman Hardy served aboard her. Meleager was among the vessels that shared in the capture, on 5 August 1793, cf the Prince Rcyal of Sweden. Also, on 16 November she and captured the French gunboat Ca Ira.
In 1794 Sir George Cockburn commanded her. In early 1794 she was among the British vessels present when Sir David Dundas
captured the town of San Fiorenzo (San Fiurenzu) in the Gulf of St. Florent
in Corsica. There the British found the French frigate Minerve on 19 February 1794, and were able to refloat her. They then took her into service as a 38-gun frigate under the name . Meleager shared in the prize money for both St Fiorenzo and for the naval stores captured in the town.
In April captured the Mars (3 April) and Aurora (15 April) in the presence of , , , and Meleager.
Next, she took part in The Raid on Genoa (14 March 1795), and the Fight at Hyeres (12 May 1795). Meleager was among the vessels that shared in the prize money for the Ca-Ira, Censeur
, and Expedition (formerly ), captured during or after the raid on Genoa. The British returned Speedy to service. Around this time Meleager was among the vessels that shared in the capture of the Genoese vessel Fortuna and the tartane
Concezione. They also captured the Genoese and Venetian polacres and luggers Madona del Grazzie e Consolazione, Volante de Dio, Madona del Grazzie de Padua, Buena Forte and another small vessel.
In 1796, Meleager was part of a squadron off the coast of Genoa
under the command of Captain Horatio Nelson. Nelson, in , led Meleager, (32 guns), (64 guns) and the 16-gun brig-sloop Speedy.
On 31 May 1796, the squadron chased six French vessels that Nelson believed were bringing supplies from Toulon, to be landed at
St. Piere d'Acena, for the Siege of Mantua. The vessels took shelter under the guns of a battery. Meleager then led Agamemnon and the rest of the Nelson's squadron in close where the boats of the squadron could capture the French vessels, which they did. In the action, Agamemnon had one man killed and two men wounded, and Blanche had one man wounded. The French prizes consisted of two warships and five transports:
On 24 December 1796, Meleager, , and captured the Spanish vessel Mejor Amigo. On 2 January 1797, the same vessels plus captured Nostra Senora de la Misericordia. That same day the same vessels captured the French privateer Fodroyant, for which head money was paid in August 1801.
Also in early 1797, Meleager was in company with these British vessels and some others when they captured the Spanish ship San Fransisco, which was sold in Lisbon. On 30 January Meleager was among the eleven vessels that shared in the capture of the Purissima Conception.
Then on 25 February, Meleager, under Captain Charles Ogle, and captured the Spanish ship Santa Catalina. At some point Meleager captured the Spanish ships St. Natalia and Cartada, alias Cubana. In May 1798, Meleager received the net proceeds of an insurance of ₤3000 on the Spanish ship Teresa, which she had captured on 21 February 1797.
Meleager transferred to the Jamaica Station, where she served in the squadron under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. In June 1799 she captured a Spanish settee carrying sugar from Vera Cruz
to Cadiz. On 23 and 24 July Meleager was in company with when they captured the Spanish vessels Virgin D'Regla, Jesus Maria, and Jose.
Between end-July and end-October 1799 Meleager and Greyhound captured five more Spanish vessels:
Alone, Meleager also captured a Dutch schooner sailing from Jaquemel
to Curacoa
with a cargo of coffee.
Between end-October 1799 and 20 February 1800, Meleager took a number of prizes:
Meleager destroyed a number of the quite small vessels sailing from Aux Cayes to St Thomas:
Then she took as prizes:
Together with she captured:
Between 28 February and 20 May, Meleager captured two small vessels:
Between 20 May and 3 August 1800, Meleager captured further vessels. First, she detained the American ship Gadson, which was sailing from Porto Cavello to Charleston with indigo, coffee, and tobacco. Then with Crescent and she took a Spanish felucca
sailing from Havana to Vera Cruz and a Spanish xebec sailing from Campeachy
to Havana.
Next, Meleager took four more vessels:
Captain John Perkins
was made post-captain
in Meleager in 1800 on the Jamaica station but less than a year later, in 1801, she came under the command of Thomas Bladen Capel
.
in the Gulf of Mexico when just before midnight lookouts spotted breakers ahead. Even though the helmsman tried to turn her, Meleager ran hard onto a reef. Despite their best efforts,the crew could neither pull Meleager off the reef nor could the pumps keep up with the water coming in. The crew put provisions in the boats and then abandoned ship before she sank. The boats sailed to Vera Cruz
. Here, in mid-July, picked the crew up. The subsequent court martial ruled that the wreck was due to the charts on Meleager being greatly in error with respect to the location of the Triangles Shoal on which she had run aground.
Shipbuilding in Frindsbury, Kent
Frindsbury TQ744697 is a parish on the River Medway, on the opposite bank to Chatham Dockyard in Kent, England. It was a centre of ship building before 1820, building at least six 74 gun third rate, ships of the line and many smaller vessels. From 1820, until recent times, the ship yards built...
at the Quarry House yard in Frindsbury
Frindsbury
Frindsbury is part of the Medway Towns conurbation in Kent, southern England. It lies on the opposite side of the River Medway to Rochester, and at various times in its history has been considered fully or partially part of the City of Rochester. Frindsbury refers to both a parish and a manor....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She was named after Meleager
Meleager (disambiguation)
Meleager is the English transliteration of the Greek name Μελεαγρος. It may refer to:*Meleager, a figure of Greek mythology*Meleager , an officer of Alexander the Great *Meleager , a ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, Meleager is the English transliteration of the Greek name Μελεαγρος. It may refer...
, who could have been a Macedonian officer of distinction in the service of Alexander the Great, or Meleager
Meleager
In Greek mythology, Meleager was a hero venerated in his temenos at Calydon in Aetolia. He was already famed as the host of the Calydonian boar hunt in the epic tradition that was reworked by Homer....
, a character from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.
Career
Admiral Sir Charles TylerCharles Tyler
Admiral Sir Charles Tyler, GCB was a British admiral who gained fame during the Napoleonic Wars as one of the Nelsonic Band of Brothers and a naval officer of great reputation and success who fought at the battles of Copenhagen and Trafalgar.-Early life:Tyler was born in 1760, the son of Captain...
took command of Meleager in 1790. In 1793 Lieutenant Thomas Masterman Hardy served aboard her. Meleager was among the vessels that shared in the capture, on 5 August 1793, cf the Prince Rcyal of Sweden. Also, on 16 November she and captured the French gunboat Ca Ira.
In 1794 Sir George Cockburn commanded her. In early 1794 she was among the British vessels present when Sir David Dundas
Sir David Dundas, 1st Baronet
General Sir David Dundas, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British general who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces from 1809 to 1811.-Military service:...
captured the town of San Fiorenzo (San Fiurenzu) in the Gulf of St. Florent
Saint-Florent, Haute-Corse
Saint-Florent is a commune in Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It is a fishing port located on the gulf of the same name....
in Corsica. There the British found the French frigate Minerve on 19 February 1794, and were able to refloat her. They then took her into service as a 38-gun frigate under the name . Meleager shared in the prize money for both St Fiorenzo and for the naval stores captured in the town.
In April captured the Mars (3 April) and Aurora (15 April) in the presence of , , , and Meleager.
Next, she took part in The Raid on Genoa (14 March 1795), and the Fight at Hyeres (12 May 1795). Meleager was among the vessels that shared in the prize money for the Ca-Ira, Censeur
French ship Censeur (1782)
Censeur was a 74-gun Pégase-class ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1782. She served during the last months of the American War of Independence, and survived to see action in the French Revolutionary Wars. She was briefly captured by the British, but was retaken after a few months...
, and Expedition (formerly ), captured during or after the raid on Genoa. The British returned Speedy to service. Around this time Meleager was among the vessels that shared in the capture of the Genoese vessel Fortuna and the tartane
Tartane
A Tartane or tartan was a small ship used both as a fishing ship and for coastal trading in the Mediterranean. They were in use for over 300 years until the late 19th century. A tartane had a single mast on which was rigged a large lateen sail, and with a bowsprit and fore-sail. When the wind was...
Concezione. They also captured the Genoese and Venetian polacres and luggers Madona del Grazzie e Consolazione, Volante de Dio, Madona del Grazzie de Padua, Buena Forte and another small vessel.
In 1796, Meleager was part of a squadron off the coast of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
under the command of Captain Horatio Nelson. Nelson, in , led Meleager, (32 guns), (64 guns) and the 16-gun brig-sloop Speedy.
On 31 May 1796, the squadron chased six French vessels that Nelson believed were bringing supplies from Toulon, to be landed at
St. Piere d'Acena, for the Siege of Mantua. The vessels took shelter under the guns of a battery. Meleager then led Agamemnon and the rest of the Nelson's squadron in close where the boats of the squadron could capture the French vessels, which they did. In the action, Agamemnon had one man killed and two men wounded, and Blanche had one man wounded. The French prizes consisted of two warships and five transports:
- ketch Genie of three 18-pounders, four swivel gunss and 60 men;
- gunboat Numero Douzel of one 18-pounder, four swivels and 30 men;
- brig Bonne-Mere of 250 tons burthenBuilder's Old MeasurementBuilder's Old Measurement is the method of calculating the size or cargo capacity of a ship used in England from approximately 1720 to 1849. It estimated the tonnage of a ship based on length and maximum beam...
, transporting brass 24-pounder guns, 13" mortars and gun-carriages; - ketch Verge de Consolation of 120 tons, transporting brass guns, mortars, shells and gun-carriages;
- ketch Jean Baptiste of 100 tons, carrying brandy and some bread;
- ketch of unknown name of 100 tons, carrying Austrian prisoners; and
- ketch St. Anne de Paix, of 70 tons, transporting wheelbarrows and entrenching tools. The British destroyed the vessel.
On 24 December 1796, Meleager, , and captured the Spanish vessel Mejor Amigo. On 2 January 1797, the same vessels plus captured Nostra Senora de la Misericordia. That same day the same vessels captured the French privateer Fodroyant, for which head money was paid in August 1801.
Also in early 1797, Meleager was in company with these British vessels and some others when they captured the Spanish ship San Fransisco, which was sold in Lisbon. On 30 January Meleager was among the eleven vessels that shared in the capture of the Purissima Conception.
Then on 25 February, Meleager, under Captain Charles Ogle, and captured the Spanish ship Santa Catalina. At some point Meleager captured the Spanish ships St. Natalia and Cartada, alias Cubana. In May 1798, Meleager received the net proceeds of an insurance of ₤3000 on the Spanish ship Teresa, which she had captured on 21 February 1797.
Meleager transferred to the Jamaica Station, where she served in the squadron under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. In June 1799 she captured a Spanish settee carrying sugar from Vera Cruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
to Cadiz. On 23 and 24 July Meleager was in company with when they captured the Spanish vessels Virgin D'Regla, Jesus Maria, and Jose.
Between end-July and end-October 1799 Meleager and Greyhound captured five more Spanish vessels:
- ship Santa Anna, of 12 guns, 24 men, 320 tons, sailing from Havana to Vera Cruz with a cargo of wine, wax, tar and the like;
- cutter Vecourso, of two guns, 12 men and 50 tons, sailing from NantzNantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
to Vera Cruz with a cargo of steel, bale goods and the like. - brig Animas sailing from Havana to Vera Cruz with a cargo of brandy, bales, etc.
- schooner Saint Juan Baptiste sailing from Cadiz to Vera Cruz with a cargo of wine and cloth.
- settee Saint Miguel y la Virgin de Regla sailing from Cadiz to Vera Cruz with a cargo of paper, oil, etc.
Alone, Meleager also captured a Dutch schooner sailing from Jaquemel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
to Curacoa
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
with a cargo of coffee.
Between end-October 1799 and 20 February 1800, Meleager took a number of prizes:
- Dutch schooner Minette of ten men and 40 tons, sailing with coffee from Jaquemel to Curacoa;
- Danish schooner Hazard, of 12 men and 40 tons, sailing from Aux CayesLes CayesLes Cayes , is a town and seaport in southwestern Haiti, with a population of approximately 45,904 people . Estimates from 2008 place the population at close to 70,000 people...
to St Thomas with coffee; and - French schooner Virgin, of 30 tons, sailing from Aux Cayes to St Thomas with coffee and rum.
Meleager destroyed a number of the quite small vessels sailing from Aux Cayes to St Thomas:
- French schooner of ten tons with rum;
- French boat with rum;
- French sloop with rum;
- French schooner with coffee; and
- Spanish schooner, of 40 tons, sailing in ballast.
Then she took as prizes:
- Spanish schooner, of 50 tons, sailing in ballast; and
- Spanish Schooner Aimable Marie, of 22 men, 110 tons, sailing from Cadiz to Vera Cruz with bale goods.
Together with she captured:
- Spanish vessel St. Francisco, sailing from Cuba to St. Martha with bale goods;
- Spanish vessel Nostra Senora de los Dolores, sailing from Porto BelloPortobelo, PanamaPortobelo is a port city in Colón Province, Panama. It is located on the northern part of the Isthmus of Panama and has a deep natural harbor. Today, Portobelo is a sleepy city with a population of fewer than 3,000...
to CarthagenaCartagena, ColombiaCartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
with tobacco and copper; and - Spanish vessel Nostra Senora del Carmen, sailing from St. Domingo to Carthagena with naval stores.
Between 28 February and 20 May, Meleager captured two small vessels:
- Spanish xebecXebecA xebec , also spelled zebec, was a Mediterranean sailing ship that was used mostly for trading. It would have a long overhanging bowsprit and protruding mizzen mast...
Pacaro; and - Spanish brig Maiste, sailing from Vera Cruz with copper, hides, and soap.
Between 20 May and 3 August 1800, Meleager captured further vessels. First, she detained the American ship Gadson, which was sailing from Porto Cavello to Charleston with indigo, coffee, and tobacco. Then with Crescent and she took a Spanish felucca
Felucca
A felucca is a traditional wooden sailing boat used in protected waters of the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean including Malta, and particularly along the Nile in Egypt, Sudan, and also in Iraq. Its rig consists of one or two lateen sails....
sailing from Havana to Vera Cruz and a Spanish xebec sailing from Campeachy
Campeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
to Havana.
Next, Meleager took four more vessels:
- American ship Diana, sailing from Vera Cruz to New York, with cochineal and sugar;
- English schooner Flora, sailing from Vera Cruz with specie;
- Spanish schooner Bella Johannah, sailing from Campeachy to Porto Cavello with Mahogany;
- American brig Leopard, sailing from Boston to Havana with iron.
Captain John Perkins
John Perkins (Royal Navy officer)
Captain John Perkins, Royal Navy was a British naval officer.Perkins, nicknamed Jack Punch, was the first black commissioned officer in the Royal Navy. He rose from obscurity to be one of the most successful ship captains of the Georgian navy...
was made 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:...
in Meleager in 1800 on the Jamaica station but less than a year later, in 1801, she came under the command of Thomas Bladen Capel
Thomas Bladen Capel
Admiral Sir Thomas Bladen Capel GCB RN was an officer in the British Royal Navy whose distinguished service in the French Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 earned him rapid promotion and great acclaim both in and out of the Navy...
.
Fate
On 9 June Capel and Meleager were cruising Bahia del CampecheCampeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
in the Gulf of Mexico when just before midnight lookouts spotted breakers ahead. Even though the helmsman tried to turn her, Meleager ran hard onto a reef. Despite their best efforts,the crew could neither pull Meleager off the reef nor could the pumps keep up with the water coming in. The crew put provisions in the boats and then abandoned ship before she sank. The boats sailed to Vera Cruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
. Here, in mid-July, picked the crew up. The subsequent court martial ruled that the wreck was due to the charts on Meleager being greatly in error with respect to the location of the Triangles Shoal on which she had run aground.