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ASTRAEA
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(32) |
5th rate
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Built in 1781, Fabian, E. Cowes.
Wrecked off Anegada, West Indies in 1808. |
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- 1782 Capt. M. SQUIRE, Quebec.
- 1786 Capt. Peter RAINIER, served in the West Indies during the following three years when she visited all the British islands and most of the French and Spanish colonies.
- 1793 Capt. Robert MOORSOM. He continued in her until the spring of 1795 when he removed to HINDOSTAN.
- 1795 Capt. Lord Henry PAULET.
- On the morning of 10 April Rear Ad. COLPOYS was in the Channel with five sail of the line and three frigates, one being ASTRAEA. Three French frigates were sighted and COLOSSUS exchanged fire with the sternmost. The enemy ships then separated, steering off on different courses. ASTRAEA, ROBUST and HANNIBAL followed the one which steered north-west and by the evening ASTRAEA, having out-sailed the 74-gun ships, found herself in action with the 36-gun GLOIRE. After 58 minutes the French surrendered with 40 killed and wounded. ASTRAEA had lost only 8 men wounded but the masts and rigging of both ships were badly damaged.
Lieut. John TALBOT of ASTRAEA was made a commander and posted the following year. Medals were awarded for this action in 1849. HANNIBAL captured one of the enemy, the GENTILLE (36) but the FRATERNITE (36) escaped. - In September 1797 ASTRAEA rescued the young midshipman Benjamin CLEMENT (later post captain) who had been adrift in NASSAU's jolly boat for 40 hours, out of sight of the fleet in the North Sea, with a crew that got intoxicated.
- 1799 Capt. R. DACRES. North Sea.
On 10 April, some 20 miles west of the Texel ASTRAEA captured the French privateer lugger MARSOUIN (14) after a chase of three hours. - 1801 Capt. Peter RIBOLEAU. Armed en flute in the Mediterranean. She took part in the landings at Aboukir Bay and had one seaman wounded.
- 1805 Capt. James CARTHEW, Downs.
- 1807 Capt. James DUNBAR, North Sea. At the end of the year Capt. Edmund HEYWOOD, fitting out at Chatham for the West Indies.
She was wrecked off Anegada in the Virgin Islands on 24 May 1808.
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