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AJAX
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(74) |
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Built in 1809, Blackwall.
Screw ship in 1846.
Broken up in 1864. |
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- 1809 Capt. R. W. O. FOWEY.
- 1810 Capt. Rupert OTWAY, 05/1809.
In the autumn he escorted a large convoy to the Mediterranean then cruised off Sardinia throughout the winter with a squadron under his orders. - On 20 July 1810 a French three-decker, five other line-of-battle ships and four frigates came out from Toulon to liberate a frigate in Bandol.
They had nearly cut off EURYALUS and SHEERWATER when Capt. BLACKWOOD brought in the rest of the inshore squadron: WARRIOR, AJAX and CONQUEROR, engaged the head-most enemy ships and compelled them to stand back to port. - On 13 December 1810 KENT, AJAX, CAMBRIAN, SPARROWHAWK and MINSTREL carried out an attack on an enemy convoy bound for Barcelona, which had taken shelter behind the mole at Palamos.
Eight merchantmen were under the protection of a ketch and two xebecs in addition to two batteries and 250 soldiers. - 350 seamen and 250 marines were landed under the protection of the guns of the squadron.
The batteries were destroyed and the enemy vessels burnt but casualties were high when the men retired through the town to the mole instead of to the beach where CAMBRIAN, SPARROWHAWK and MINSTREL lay to cover them.
The enemy had been reinforced and occupied the houses in the town from which they kept up a murderous fire on the boats crowded with men. - The total losses were about 70 killed, wounded and missing with AJAX sufferings the worst with 11 seamen and 4 marines killed; 3 officers, 12 seamen and 6 marines wounded; 19 seamen and 18 marines missing.
- On 26 March 1811 Capt. OTWAY received orders from Sir Charles COTTON to intercept two French frigates which had escaped from Toulon to the eastward.
He immediately pushed through the Straits of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia and ordered Capt. CHAMBERLAYNE in UNITE to go north about around Corsica.
When they rejoined each other on 30 March Capt. OTWAY learned that three French ships, EMILY (40) ADRIAN (40) DROMADAIRE (20) were working through the Piombino Pass between Elba and the mainland.
At dawn on the 31st. the enemy were sighted a little to windward but only DROMADAIRE could be cut off, the other two escaping into Porto Ferrago. She was a fine frigate-built ship only five months old and carrying 15,000 shot and shells and 90 tons of gunpowder, a present from Napoleon to the Bey of Tunis.
The other two escaped into Porto Ferrajo. - When Capt. OTWAY's health deteriorated he obtained permission to exchange into CUMBERLAND and returned in her to England at the end of 1811.
- At the end of the year Capt. James BRISBANE, Mediterranean.
- 1813 Capt. OTWAY rejoined AJAX in May 1813 after recuperating ashore and joined the Channel fleet.
- At three o'clock on the morning of 27 August 1813 seamen and marines from AJAX joined those from SURVEILLANTE, PRESIDENT, REVOLUTIONAIRE and the ISABELLA and MILLBANK transports in an assault on the island of Santa Clara at the mouth of the harbour of San Sebastian.
A small garrison made a serious resistance before being overcome, killing two of the attackers and wounding seventeen including Mr Henry MOORE, midshipman of AJAX. - On 17 March 1814, after a chase of five hours, AJAX captured the French man-of-war brig ALCYON 90 miles north of the Isles of Scilly.
Twenty-four hours out of St. Malo and armed with sixteen 24-pounders she was well equipped for a four month's cruise.
In June 1814 AJAX escorted a convoy with 5,000 troops from Bordeaux to reinforce the army in Canada.
Capt. OTWAY was advanced to Rear Admiral in the same month. - At the end of 1814 Capt. George MUNDY was appointed to command AJAX.
In the spring of 1815 he joined Lord EXMOUTH in the Mediterranean where, following Napoleon's return from Elba, he was sent in June to Marseilles to ascertain the sentiments of the inhabitants.
He found that almost all the forts and batteries had been dismantled, there were only about 300 troops left in the town and that the local people were very discontented.
On the 29 June rumours reached Marseilles of a great battle at which Napoleon had been defeated and had abdicated in favour of his son.
The news produced an outburst of Royalist fervour and a force of 2,500 men was raised to drive out the troops and hoist the Bourbon white flag.
Capt. MUNDY sent dispatches to Lord EXETER and to the Duke d'Angouleme who was in Barcelona.
He also informed Sir James WOOD in POMPEE who was responsible for the blockade of Toulon. - While AJAX was anchored of Marseilles she captured several French vessels whose papers had been defaced, Louis XVIII had been replaced by "au nom de l'Empereur. " Although they were legally legitimate prizes Capt. MUNDAY was ordered to return them to their owners.
- AJAX visited Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli with Lord EXETER in March 1816 and 1792 Europeans were released from slavery. She was paid off in July 1816.
- 1817 Out of commission at Portsmouth.
- 1846 Steam guardship at Portsmouth.
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