HMS Daring (1804)

Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Daring
Ordered: June 1804
Builder: Jabez Bailey, Ipswich
Laid down: June 1804
Launched: October 1804
Commissioned: November 1804
Fate: Scuttled 27 January 1813
General characteristics
Class and type: Archer-class gun-brig
Tons burthen: 178 tons
Length: 80 ft 2 in (24.43 m) (gundeck)
65 ft 10.75 in (20.0851 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 22 ft 6.75 in (6.8771 m)
Depth of hold: 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Sail plan: Brig
Complement: 50
Armament: 10 x 18-pounder carronades, and 2 chase guns

HMS Daring was a 12-gun gun-brig of the Archer class of the British Royal Navy.

History

She was built under contract by Jabez Bailey, of Ipswich and launched in October 1804. In August 1809, she served in the West Scheldt, being detached under Sir Home Popham to take soundings. By 1811 she was fitting out at Sheerness before proceeding to the coast of West Africa.

On 27 January 1813 Daring’s captain, Lieutenant William Pascoe RN was forced to run the gun-brig aground on Tamara (one of the Iles de Los off Guinea) and burn her when he was threatened by the French frigates Aréthuse and Rubis. He arrived in the Sierra Leone River with the greater part of his crew on 28 January and reported to Captain Frederick Paul Irby of HMS Amelia. Pascoe went back in a small schooner to reconnoitre and found that the two frigates were unloading a Portuguese prize before preparing to sail to intercept home-bound trade. He returned on 4 February and found that a cartel had arrived with the master and a boat's crew of Daring. Captain Irby, his crew depleted by sickness but reinforced by the men from Daring, sailed to attack one of the French frigates which was anchored well to the north of the other (Rubis having been disabled by striking a rock). Amelia found herself engaged for four hours and suffered heavy casualties - 51 killed (including Lt Pascoe) and 95 wounded. Although badly damaged, Amelia made it home to Britain via Madeira. Aréthuse returned to the stranded Rubis, which was burnt by the French on 8 February when she could not be refloated.

Commanding officers

From   Captain
1805 Lt Charles C Ormsby
1807 Lt George Hayes
1810 Lt Thomas Allen
1811 Lt John Campbell
1812 Lt William R Pascoe

References