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CALLIOPE
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Built in 1808, Deptford (Cherokee class).
Broken up in 1829. |
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- 1808 John M'KERLIE, Deptford, where the new vessel was being fitted out for the North Sea station.
(M'KERLIE had lost his right arm eight years before in ARETHUSA) She assisted in the capture of Flushing and M'KERLIE was given command of a division of gun-brigs for the Walcheren expedition.
CALIOPE then cruised the north coast of Holland and the island of Heligoland, capturing several Danish and Swedish merchant vessels. - On the morning of 25 October 1810 M'KERLIE sighted a large schooner just south of the Dogger Bank. He soon recognised her as French but she mistook the CALIOPE for a merchant brig. After some three hours he came up with her and opened fire first with his bow chasers and then, as they got within musket shot, he used his great guns with round and grape to disable the Frenchman's masts and rigging. At midday the French captain struck.
She proved to be the privateer COMTESSE D'HAMBOURG, with eight 12-pounders and six 8-pounders, which had sailed from Dunkirk eight days before but had made no captures. CALLIOPE had only three men wounded including the sergeant of marines who received two musket balls through his body and one through his arm before he quitted his post. Since CALIOPE's sails and rigging were badly damaged and two carronades were disabled by bolts breaking, M'KERLIE took her and his prize into Yarmouth. - Shortly afterwards M'KERLIE drove a large a French privateer lugger into the Vlie passage near the Texel where she was destroyed in a gale. The Frenchman had thrown his 16 guns overboard during the chase. After serving with the inshore squadron off Flushing, CALIOPE moved to Heligoland in March 1813 where M'KERLIE took command of the naval forces in the Ems, Elbe, Weser and Jade.
(On 18 March Hamburg was occupied by Russian troops under Baron von Tettenborn but on 2 May Napoleon defeated the Russo-Prussian army at Luzen and Von Tettenborn was obliged to retreat allowing the French to return. M'Kerlie received the news by the Hamburg mail on 10 May. See also BREVDRAGEREN.) - The following month, as the French prepared to attack Cuxhaven, M'KERLIE recalled DRAKE, HEARTY and THRASHER from the Ems and landed 70 men to destroy the batteries along the coast. As the French entered the town on 7 May he embarked his men and subjected the enemy to two hours bombardment with his guns causing many casualties.
- CALLIOPE remained as senior ship at Heligoland until October 1813 when Capt. Arthur FAQUHER arrived in the frigate DESIREE with a larger squadron. On 30 October the boats of the squadron under M'KERLIE entered the Weser and seized two corvettes, two gun-brigs and other enemy vessels at Braak which CALLIOPE escorted to England.
- 1814 John CODD, 06/12/1813, re-fitting at Sheerness for North Sea.
- 1815 Ditto, to Jamaica.
- 1816 Portsmouth.
- 1822 Tender to the APOLLO yacht, Portsmouth.
- 1824 Tender to the ROYAL GEORGE yacht, Portsmouth.
- 1825 Lieut. John POWNEY. CALLIOPE conveyed the Mexican charge d'affaires, Senor Rocafuerte, home from England with a commercial treaty and Lieut. POWNEY was presented with a table service of plate.
- On 12 April 1827 she returned home with freight of considerable value and, after survey, was found to be unfit for further service.
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