A |  B |  C |  D |  E |  F |  G |  H |  I |  J |  K |  L |  M |  N |  O |  P |  Q |  R |  S |  T |  U |  V |  W |  X |  Y |  Z

Use quotes like in "Aboukir Bay" to search phrases.
Use * as a wildcard like in "Trafalg*".



COMET Built in 1807, Bideford.
Sold in 1815.

  • 1807 Cuthbert Featherstone DALY, Downs coast of Spain.
    On 21 June 1808 COSSACK, Capt. George DIGBY, and COMET arrived off Santander to learn that the French army was expected to soon advance through a mountain pass behind the town.
    Capt. DIGBY sent Capt. DALY into the harbour to reconnoitre and he returned with the information that the French had halted a few miles from the town and were expected to enter that night or the following day.
    He had spiked the guns in two forts near the town and asked permission to to go in to destroy the magazine.
    The following morning two boats from each ship under the orders of Capt. DALY, accompanied by Lieut. HM
    HERBERT of COSSACK and Lieut. Head of the Royal Marines, landed at eight o'clock and spiked the guns at two forts and also wedged shot in the barrels.
    The magazine had 500 barrels of gunpowder and they blew it up as the French entered the town.
    A body of French dragoons took post near the smoking ruins as the boats rounded the Point of De Ano on their way back to the ships.
  • Capt. DALY and Lieut. READ were both badly scorched in setting fire to the powder trains.
  • On 9 August 1808 COMET left the roadstead at Gijon on the north Spanish coast and on the morning of the 11th., after sailing some 200 miles to the northward, she sighted a corvette and two brigs.
    Since they failed to answer the private signal Capt. DALY concluded that they were hostile and decided that it would be prudent to maintain his course.
  • To his surprise the enemy vessels made all sail away from him to the N. N.E.
    and after three hours the corvette, having outstripped the others, tacked and stood to the southward so COMET chased after the brigs.
    One of them tacked and passed COMET to windward, the other hoisted French colours and opened fire with her stern guns.
    Capt. DALY replied and a close action ensued which lasted for twenty minutes until the enemy struck her colours.
  • She was the French national brig SYLPHE, armed with sixteen 26-pounder carronades and two long nines and with a crew of 98 men. She was commanded by Louis Marie Clemont, capitaine de frigate.
    Her second lieutenant, a midshipman and five men had been killed and three men wounded in the action.
    COMET had no casualties but her masts, sails and rigging were damaged.
  • A fine vessel, built in 1804, the brig was copper bottomed and fastened and was later taken into the Royal Navy as SEAGULL.
    Her two consorts were the DILIGENTE (22), and ESPIEGLE (18) and they had left L'Orient two days before to take flour to Martinique.
    ESPIEGLE was taken by Capt. UPTON in SIBYLLE five days later and taken into the Navy as ELECTRA.
    DILIGENTE reached Martinique and was taken at the capture of that island in February 1809, she became the ST. PIERRE.
    Medals were awarded to the survivors of the action in 1847.
  • 1811 R. H. MUDDLE, Gibraltar convoy to Newfoundland.
  • 1812 George William BLAINEY, Newfoundland.


back  |  intro  |  home  |  contact

© 1995, 2007 Michael Phillips