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ALBION
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(74) |
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Built in 1802, Blackwall.
Broken up in 1836. |
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- 1802 Capt. John FERRIER, Torbay.
On 28 May 1803 MINOTAUR, THUNDERER and ALBION captured the French 40 gun frigate FRANCHISE near Brest before sailing for the East Indies.
ALBION and SCEPTRE captured the French ship CLARISSE of 12 guns and 157 men some 200 miles off the east coast of Sumatra on 21 December 1803. - She went into dock at Chatham in 1810 for thorough repair and was undocked in January 1813 and commissioned the following month by Capt. DEVONSHIRE for service on the Halifax station.
During the very severe winter of 1814, with a frigate and a sloop under his orders, he captured many American vessels off the Nantucket shoals.
Because of bad gout brought on by the weather Capt. DEVONSHIRE was obliged to exchange into SCEPTRE to return to England. - 1814 Capt. Charles Bayne ROSS, flagship of Vice Ad. COCKBURN on the America station.
- On 29 May 1814 the boats of ALBION and DRAGON entered the River Pungoteak in Virginia to attack American shipping.
There were no vessels in the river but seamen and marines were landed to destroy a battery and bring off a 6-pounder gun.
At the beginning of June Capt. BARRIE of DRAGON with the boats of ALBION, his own ship and the ST. LAWRENCE schooner, fell in with a flotilla standing down the Chesapeake.
He attempted to draw them down to the DRAGON off Smith's Point but they escaped into the Patuxent.
On the 6th. the boats endeavoured to get them out by attacking with rockets and carronades but the enemy retreated into St. Leonard's Creek.
After being reinforced on the 15th. Capt. BARRIE took 12 boats with 180 marines up the river and destroyed guns and tobacco-stores at Bedict and Marlborough only 18 miles from Washington. - In September Capt. WHITE, acting of ALBION, attended Rear Ad. COCKBURN as Aid-de-Camp during a major assault on the town of Baltimore.
The army was assisted by a naval brigade (one division being commanded by Lieut. James SCOTT of ALBION).
A battle on the the 15th. scattered an American force of some 6-7,000 in front of the town but it was considered that an assault on Baltimore itself would result in heavier losses than its capture warranted.
ALBION lost three seamen killed Charles CALLAWAY, John NORMAN and William CORDROY.
Nine were wounded John BILLCH (or BILLET), quarter master; Patrick SMITH, James HOWE, David CONNELL, William POWELL, Nicholas SCRIETH, William BURGEN, Simon SHIPHERD and William FINNEY.
Six marines were wounded Robert PARSONS, Andrew DUNN, Thomas WOODWARD, John COMPTON, John PRATT and George FRASER. - ALBION next operated off the coast of Georgia and Capt. ROSS was sent up the St. Mary's river with some armed boats to bring down any vessels found there.
They blew up the fort at Point Petre, which mounted six 24-pounders and two brass 6-pounders, and recaptured the East Indiaman COUNTESS OF HARCOURT which had been taken by American privateers. She was laden with all the prize goods taken at St. Mary's and sent to Bermuda.
In another attempt on the river by Capt. PHILLOTT of PRIMROSE, Mr J. H. PEEL, midshipman of ALBION, was wounded.
This was the last act of hostility carried out by the squadron. - Following the peace between the two countries Mr WILLIAMSON of ALBION landed at Savannah from MANLY to procure supplies and was warmly received.
- ALBION sailed from Bermuda for England on 8 April carrying Sir George COCKBURN and accompanied by ASIA, PERUVIAN and HAVOC.
- 1816 Capt. James WALKER, Chatham.
- 1817 Capt. John COODE, 12/1815, flagship of Rear Ad. PENROSE, Mediterranean, where she took part in the battle of Algiers on 27 August 1816 as a private ship.
ALBION first brought up near IMPREGNABLE but then weighed and anchored again within her own length astern of the MINDEN which was lying between IMPREGNABLE and SUPERB.
A cable was passed through MINDEN's gun-room port and ALBION was hauled into line.
Although the total British killed and wounded numbered 818, ALBION had no more than 3 killed and 15, including Capt. COODE, wounded. Many of the ships cut their cables when they were ordered off, ALBION weighed hers. - While ALBION was at Malta in the autumn of 1818 Lieut. George LYON started on a career as an explorer by getting permission to leave her in November and join a Mr Ritchie on a mission to the interior of Africa.
As a post captain he is best remembered for his Arctic explorations in GRIPER. - ALBION returned home in the spring of 1819.
- 1820 Capt. Richard RAGGETT, 05/1819, Portsmouth.
- 1823 Capt. Sir William HOSTE, 06/1822, Portsmouth.
- 1825 Capt. John OMMANNEY, 06/1825, Lisbon Mediterranean. She was with Sir Edward CODRINGTON's squadron: ASIA, GENOA, GLASGOW and DARTMOUTH off Navarino in September 1827.
With such a small force it is not surprising that the Turkish Admiral ignored him when Sir Edward announced a blockade on the 19th.
Three days later the Turks prepared to attack Hydra and the British were unable to interfere, but fortunately 6 French and 3 British ships arrived and the Turks returned to their anchorage. - Because the Turks still were laying waste to Morea, CODRINGTON and the combined British French Russian fleet entered Navarino on 20 October and started an action to destroy the Turco-Egyptian fleet.
ALBION being third in line after ASIA and GENOA was exposed to the fire of one 74 and two 64-gun ships before she could open her broadside.
A Turkish ship, which fouled ALBION, was boarded by Lieut. John DRAKE and the Turks surrendered but, while they were engaged in freeing Greek prisoners from her hold, she was found to be on fire and, shortly after a midshipman cut her free, she blew up.
ALBION then engaged the two remaining ships and set the largest on fire before breaking off the engagement at dusk. She lost 10 killed including Capt. Cornelius Stevens, RM , and Mr Edward FOSTER, volunteer.
The 50 wounded included William LLOYD, mate; Frederick GREY, midshipman, who lost his right arm, and Thomas ADDINGTON, boatswain.
Cdr. Cdr. John CAMPBELL and Lieut. John D'URBAN were slightly wounded. - 1828 Out of commission at Portsmouth.
- 1833 Leith.
- 1836 Chatham for breaking up.
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