HMS Phoenix (1783)
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| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Phoenix |
| Builder: | Parsons, Bursledon |
| Launched: | 15 September 1758 |
| Fate: | Wrecked on 20 February 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | fifth rate frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 884 tons |
| Length: | 137 ft (42 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft 6 in (11.7 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Armament: | 36 guns of various weights of shot |
HMS Phoenix was a 36-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy.
She was built by the shipbuilder George Parsons at Bursledon and launched on 15 July, 1783.
One of her earlier commanders was Richard Strachan. She was captained by Zachary Mudge from 18 November 1803. On 10 August 1805 she attacked and captured a French ship, that was later commissioned into the Navy as the frigate HMS Didon. Phoenix missed out seeing action at the Battle of Trafalgar later that year, but several days later on 4 November, Phoenix was part of a squadron which engaged and defeated several French ships that had escaped the battle. She helped to capture the French ship Scipion and the French ship Brave, both of which were then commissioned into the Royal Navy. Serving aboard Phoenix at this time at the rank of first lieutenant was Samuel Brown, later to become a distinguished engineer and reach the rank of captain.
Her final captain was Charles John Austen, brother of the novelist Jane Austen, from 14 September 1814. Phoenix was lost in a storm off Smyrna (Izmir) on 20 February 1816, due to the ignorance of her pilots.
[edit] References
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- Overview of HMS Phoenix
- Naval Database
