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CARNATION
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Built in 1807, Bideford (Cruizer class).
Taken in 1808. |
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- She was armed with sixteen 32-pounder carronades and had a complement of 120 officers, men and boys.
Launched on 3 October 1807 she was in Plymouth fitting out in December. Charles Mars GREGORY was appointed to command her and she was described in the Naval Chronicle as "one of the finest vessels of her class in the navy." - 1808 West Indies.
On 3 October 1808 CARNATION fell in with the French LA PALINURE (16), about 180 miles to the N. E. of Martinique. Capt. GREGORY and the purser, Mr Morgan THOMAS, were killed and most of CARNATION's other officers and several of the crew were killed or badly wounded early in the fight; this left the boatswain, William TRIPLET, the senior officer on deck. He tried to rally the 40 or 50 men on deck to repulse the enemy when they ran CARNATION on board but, only 8 or 10 came to his support and the rest, led by marine sergeant John Chapman, fled below.
Of the 117 on board 10 were killed in the action and 30 were wounded, some 15 of them mortally. The master, Mr Anthony METHERELL, died of his wounds 3 days later. PALINURE had fourteen 24-pounder carronades and only about 100 men. She was captured by CIRCE off Diamond Rock on 31 October. - At a court martial in Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, on 28 February 1809 the surviving officers of CARNATION and a few of the crew were honourably acquitted and tribute was paid to the memory of those who were killed.
The remainder of the crew were then tried for misconduct in the face of the enemy. John Chapman was hanged the following day and 32 seamen and marines were transported to New South Wales for 14 years.
CARNATION was burnt by the French in February 1809 to prevent recapture at Martinique.
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