HMS Seahorse (1794)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Seahorse.
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Seahorse
Ordered: 14 February 1793
Builder: Marmaduke Stalkartt, Rotherhithe
Laid down: March 1793
Launched: 11 June 1794
Commissioned: 16 June 1794
Honours and
awards:

Naval General Service Medal with clasps:
"Seahorse with Badere Zaffere"[1]
"The Potomac 17 August 1814"[2]

"Boat Service 14 December 1814"[3]
Fate: Broken up in July 1819
General characteristics
Type:38-gun Artois-class fifth-rate frigate
Tons burthen:999 43⁄94 bm
Length:146 ft 3 in (44.6 m) (overall)
121 ft 8 1⁄2 in (37.1 m) (keel)
Beam:39 ft 3 1⁄2 in (12.0 m)
Depth of hold:13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
Sail plan:Full-rigged ship
Complement:270 (later 315)
Armament:Upper deck: 28 x 18-pounder guns

QD: 2 x 9-pounder guns + 12 x 32-pounder carronades

Fc: 2 x 9-pounder guns + 2 x 32-pounder carronades

HMS Seahorse was a 38-gun Artois-class fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1794 and broken up in 1819.

Revolutionary Wars

Seahorse took part in Rear Admiral Nelson's attack on Santa Cruz on 25 July 1797. She was with Vice-Admiral Hood's squadron off Alexandria in August 1798. She arrived to Portsmouth in October 1799, and returned to the Mediterranean in May 1800 as the flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton.[4]

On 9 September 1801, Seahorse left Portsmouth, escorting a convoy bound for Bengal. The convoy, reached Madeira on 23 September, and left the next day. The convoy consisted of the East Indiamen Northampton, Manship, Sarah Christiana, Comet, General Stewart, sovereign, Caledonia, Ann, Princess Mary, Verunna, Carron, Elizabeth, Monarch, and Friendship.[5]

Mediterranaean

She was paid off for a first time, in October 1802, and was recommissioned in May 1803. She was in action at Lavandon (Hyeres) 11 July 1804.[4] Her next notable action was against the Turkish vessel Badere Zaffere on 6 July 1808.

War of 1812

She was paid off for a second time, in June 1811 and was under repair at Woolwich from August to October 1812. She was recommissioned in September 1812 under the command of Sir James Gordon. She sank the American 16 gun privateer La Subtile off Beachy Head on 13 November 1813.[4]

Coast of North America

For more detail about the action off the Potomac on 17 August 1814, see HMS Erebus (1807).

The Seahorse was off the Atlantic Coast of Northern America in 1814, taking part in an action off the Potomac on 17 August 1814. (John Robyns, Captain of the Royal Marine detachment of HMS Albion, reckoned the Seahorse took £100,000 in prizes.[6] ) In September, she was present at the Battle of Baltimore. In November, she was at Pensacola, until the arrival of General Andrew Jackson's forces caused the British to depart. Her boats were to partake in the Battle of Lake Borgne. Her officers and crew qualified for the clasps to the Naval General Service Medal that the Admiralty issued in 1847 to all surviving claimants, for the former and latter actions.

The Seahorse stopped off at Prospect Bluff, on the Apalachicola River, to embark 64 Royal Marines. She departed on 15 April 1815, and arrived at Portsmouth on 31 May 1815.[7]

Fate

Seahorse was broken up in July 1819.

Sources and references

Sources
  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 20939. p. 241. 26 January 1849.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 20939. p. 245. 26 January 1849.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 20939. p. 247. 26 January 1849.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Winfield, p144
  5. ↑ Lloyd's List, no. 4200, - accessed 5 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Brooks & Little, pg46
  7. ↑ "Royal Marines on the Gulf Coast". Retrieved 19 January 2014. Extracted information from the muster of HMS Seahorse
References