HM Armed Schooner Diana
Encyclopedia
HMS Diana was the first British vessel captured and destroyed by colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War
.
The 120 ton schooner
was afloat for little more than a year. She was built in 1774 in the Province of Massachusetts Bay
and served as an unarmed private fishing boat for eight months before Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves
purchased her for the Royal Navy
in January 1775 for £750. According to Graves, the Diana was "so exceedingly well built that she is allowed to be the best Vessel of the Kind that has been yet in the King’s Service." Diana was refitted and armed with four 6-pounders
and twelve swivel gun
s to help enforce the Boston Port Act
. She was placed under the command of Vice-Admiral Graves's nephew, Lieutenant Thomas Graves. Open warfare between the combatants began with the Battle of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775. During the siege of Boston
that immediately followed, the new American Patriot
army surrounded Boston with troops, but British forces had naval supremacy over all the waterways nearby and occupied Boston itself.
On 27 May 1775 Diana experienced unfavourable winds while exchanging fire with colonial land forces under John Stark
during the Battle of Chelsea Creek
. Rowboats began to tow her to safety, but the rowers were forced to leave their task under heavy fire. Diana drifted and ran aground on the Chelsea
shore. General Israel Putnam
then arrived with Patriot reinforcements and two cannon. Putnam offered "good quarter" to the sailors of Diana if they would surrender, but this offer was not accepted. The schooner rolled onto her side due to the lowering tide, but the crew continued to fire cannon when they were unable to stand on her deck. The British escaped Diana soon after midnight on 28 May, fleeing to the sloop
Britannia, tender
of HMS Somerset
. The Britannia, under the command of Thomas Graves's brother John Graves, was able to escape the shallow water and return to safety. American forces boarded Diana and removed the weapons and all other items of value before destroying the vessel by burning her.
While occasional attempts have been made to locate the remains of the Diana in Chelsea Creek, which has been extensively dredged and industrialized in the years since the battle, no wrecks found in that body have been identified as hers. In 2009, the National Park Service
gave funds for a state-led effort to locate the wreck.
American 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...
.
The 120 ton schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
was afloat for little more than a year. She was built in 1774 in the Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
and served as an unarmed private fishing boat for eight months before Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves
Samuel Graves
Admiral Samuel Graves RN was a British Admiral who is probably best known for his role early in the American War of Independence.-Military career:Graves joined the Royal Navy in 1732...
purchased her for 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 January 1775 for £750. According to Graves, the Diana was "so exceedingly well built that she is allowed to be the best Vessel of the Kind that has been yet in the King’s Service." Diana was refitted and armed with four 6-pounders
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
and twelve swivel gun
Swivel gun
The term swivel gun usually refers to a small cannon, mounted on a swiveling stand or fork which allows a very wide arc of movement. Another type of firearm referred to as a swivel gun was an early flintlock combination gun with two barrels that rotated along their axes to allow the shooter to...
s to help enforce the Boston Port Act
Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which became law on March 30, 1774, and is one of the measures that were designed to secure Great Britain's jurisdictions over her American dominions.A response to the Boston Tea Party, it outlawed the use...
. She was placed under the command of Vice-Admiral Graves's nephew, Lieutenant Thomas Graves. Open warfare between the combatants began with the Battle of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775. During the siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
that immediately followed, the new American Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
army surrounded Boston with troops, but British forces had naval supremacy over all the waterways nearby and occupied Boston itself.
On 27 May 1775 Diana experienced unfavourable winds while exchanging fire with colonial land forces under John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...
during the Battle of Chelsea Creek
Battle of Chelsea Creek
The Battle of Chelsea Creek was the second military engagement of the Boston campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It is also known as the Battle of Noddle's Island, Battle of Hog Island and the Battle of the Chelsea Estuary...
. Rowboats began to tow her to safety, but the rowers were forced to leave their task under heavy fire. Diana drifted and ran aground on the Chelsea
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
shore. General Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam was an American army general and Freemason who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War...
then arrived with Patriot reinforcements and two cannon. Putnam offered "good quarter" to the sailors of Diana if they would surrender, but this offer was not accepted. The schooner rolled onto her side due to the lowering tide, but the crew continued to fire cannon when they were unable to stand on her deck. The British escaped Diana soon after midnight on 28 May, fleeing to the sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
Britannia, tender
Ship's tender
A ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a boat, or a larger ship used to service a ship, generally by transporting people and/or supplies to and from shore or another ship...
of HMS Somerset
HMS Somerset (1748)
HMS Somerset was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Chatham Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment, and launched on 18 July 1748. She was the third vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name. Somerset was involved in several notable battles of the...
. The Britannia, under the command of Thomas Graves's brother John Graves, was able to escape the shallow water and return to safety. American forces boarded Diana and removed the weapons and all other items of value before destroying the vessel by burning her.
While occasional attempts have been made to locate the remains of the Diana in Chelsea Creek, which has been extensively dredged and industrialized in the years since the battle, no wrecks found in that body have been identified as hers. In 2009, the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
gave funds for a state-led effort to locate the wreck.