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DONEGAL
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The French LE HOCHE taken with three other vessels off Ireland by Sir J.B. WARREN on 12 October 1798.
Broken up in 1845. |
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- 1800 Plymouth.
- 1801 Capt. Sir Richard STRACHAN, Channel.
Mr William BISSELL was her first lieutenant from 1801 until December 1805. - Following the outbreak of hostilities with Spain DONEGAL was employed watching the French squadron at Cadiz. She fell in with the large Spanish frigate AMPHITRITE (42), during November 1804.
After a chase of 46 hours AMPHITRITE carried away her mizzen-top-mast which enabled DONEGAL to come up with her.
Sir Richard dispatched a boat to bring the captain on board but, since neither understood the language of the other, it was with difficulty that he managed to acquaint the Spaniard that his orders required him to conduct the AMPHIRITE back to Cadiz. - He allowed the Spanish captain three minutes to decide whether he would comply and then, after waiting in vain for six minutes, fired into AMPHITRITE.
After an engagement of eight minutes, during which the Spanish captain was killed by a musket ball, AMPHITRITE struck her colours. She was carrying dispatches from Cadiz to Teneriffe and Havana and was laden with stores.
DONEGAL also captured another Spanish vessel from Cadiz with a cargo reputed to be worth 200,000 pounds. - 1805 Capt. Pulteney MALCOLM, off Cadiz.
DONEGAL accompanied NELSON in his pursuit of the combined fleets across the Atlantic to the West Indies and back. - On 23 October DONEGAL captured the partially dismasted Spanish first rate EL RAYO which, on its return to port after Trafalgar, had been ordered to sea again to try and rescue some of the prizes.
- When Vice Ad. DUCKWORTH commanding the squadron off Cadiz learnt of the sailing of two French squadrons from Brest in December 1805, he sailed over to Barbados in search of one of them.
The French were sighted of San Domingo on 6 February.
The British ships were, the weather line, SUPERB, NORTHUMBERLAND and SPENCER, and the lee line, AGAMEMNON, CANOPUS, DONEGAL and ATLAS.
DONEGAL fired her broadside into the French BRAVE and forced her to surrender after half an hour's close action.
Capt. MALCOLM then quitted his prize to run aboard JUPITER after giving her a few broadsides.
The French surrendered to a boarding party headed by a lieutenant and two midshipmen.
Capt. MALCOLM directed ACASTA to take possession of BRAVE.
Donegal lost her fore-yard and had 12 killed, including Mr Charles KYNASTON, midshipman, and 33 wounded including Mr John AIREY, master, and Messrs. RUDALL, OGIEUM and ACTON. - 1807 Ditto, Off Finisterre.
Flagship of Rear Ad.E. HARVEY.
Later in the year under Rear Ad. KEATS in the Channel. - 1808 Spithead.
For 5 days from 1 August Capt. MALCOLM oversaw the debarkation of Sir Arthur Wellesley's army at Mondego Bay.
Lieut. James ASKEY, first of DONEGAL acted as beach-master. - Rear Ad. STOPFORD's squadron chased three enemy frigates into the Sable d'Olonne on 23 February 1809.
DEFIANCE anchored within half a mile of them, DONEGAL and CAESAR, because of their draft, farther out.
Their fire forced two of the frigates to cut and run ashore.
DONEGAL had 1 killed and 6 wounded. - In April 1809 DONEGAL was with Lord GAMBIER's fleet in the Basque Roads.
Lieut. ASKEY commanded the HERCULE fire ship in the attack on the French squadron.
He was assisted by midshipman Charles FALKINER of the same ship. - Commanded by Capt. Edward Pelham BRENTON (act.), DONEGAL sailed for Cadiz on 24 July 1809 with the Marquis Wellesley (brother of Sir Arthur) as Ambassador to the Junta at Seville.
When they arrived on 1 August the city was celebrating the news of the victory at Talavera. She brought the Marquis home in November and Capt. BRENTON was superseded by Capt. MALCOLM. - On 13 October 1810 DIANA and NIOBE drove two French frigates ashore near La Hogue.
The following day DONEGAL arrived with REVENGE to assist and the four ships took turns in firing on the enemy as long as the tide would allow.
DONEGAL had 3 men wounded. - 1811 off Cherbourg.
Later in the year in ordinary at Portsmouth. - 1814 in ordinary at Chatham.
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