|
KINGFISHER
|
(18) |
|
Built in 1804, Dover.
Broken up in 1816. |
|
|
- 1805 R. W. CRIBB, Barbados.
Two boats from KINGFISHER under the direction of Lieuts. STANDISH and SMITH brought out the Spanish privateer DAMAS from an anchorage under Cape St. Juan on 11 April 1805. She was only armed with one 8-pounder but the 57 crew resisted with musket fire both from the vessel and the shore, fortunately without causing any casualties. DAMAS had left Cumana in Venezuela 10 days previously for a cruise off Demerara. - 1805 Nathaniel Day COCHRANE, West Indies.
On 16 December 1805 he captured the French privateer schooner ELISABETH out of Guadeloupe after a twelve hour chase. She was armed with ten long 6-pounders and four 9-pounder carronades and 11 of her crew of 102 officers and men had been sent away in a prize. This was the collier CAMBRIAN which was bound for Jamaica having left FISGUARD's convoy from Cork on 29 October.
The same day, KINGFISHER and HYENA took a Spanish polacca bound for Vera Cruz with merchandise. - On 3 February 1806 KINGFISHER joined Vice-Ad. DUCKWORTH's fleet at Barbados with intelligence that a French squadron had been sighted heading for San Domingo and the whole fleet immediately sailed in quest of the enemy. The boats of KINGFISHER under the 1st. Lieut, Mr CHAPPELL, assisted in completing the destruction of two French line-of-battle ships and bringing off their crews in tremendous seas. Cdr. COCHRANE, the bearer of the dispatches after the battle, was posted.
- He was succeeded by George Francis SEYMOUR who had been severely wounded while serving in NORTHUMBERLAND in the battle off San Domingo having been struck by a grape-shot which had penetrated his jaw and removed several teeth.
On 12 May Capt. SEYMOUR joined two frigates, INDEFATIGABLE and PALLAS, in the roads of Aix, trying to tempt out a French squadron. PALLAS ran the French MINERVA on board carrying away her own jib-boom, fore and main top sail yards. MINERVA was rescued by the other French ships and KINGFISHER had to take PALLAS in tow. Capt. SEYMOUR was posted into the AURORA in July 1806. - On 27 September 1806 she was with Sir Thomas LOUIS' squadron when the French frigate PRESIDENTE (40) struck to DISPATCH.
- 1808 William HEPENSTALL, Mediterranean.
0ff the southern coast of Turkey (Caramania, a version of modern Karaman) at daylight on 27 June 1808 he sighted a large sail to the S. W. and immediately went in chase, using his sweeps because the wind was very light At about midday he caught up with a ship which hoisted French colours and opened fire. After a running fight of an hour she struck. She was the HERCULE, a letter of marque with a cargo of cotton from Aleppo and Cyprus and armed with 12 guns, 18's, 12's and 8's, and manned by 57 men of whom one was killed and two wounded. She was commanded by Gerome Cavassa. KINGFISHER only had one man slightly wounded but her yards and running rigging were badly damaged. - 1811 Ewell TRITTON.
On 29 November KINGFISHER intervened in the action between 3 British and 3 French frigates off the island of Pelagosa in the Adriatic which resulted in the capture the French POMONE. - At daylight on the 2 May 1813 KINGFISHER was six miles off Fano when several trabaccolos were sighted near Melera. Since there was little wind Capt. TRITTON dispatched his cutter and pinnace under the command of Act. Lieut. G. H. PALMER and gunner John WALLER and they came up with them after a five hour chase. One was captured and nine driven on shore near St. Catharine's on Corfu under the fire of a one gun battery and muskets. Five of the vessels were totally destroyed. KINGFISHER had two men killed and seven severely wounded.
- On 27 May at Port Slano, KINGFISHER took six vessels laden with grain and wine for Ragusa and destroyed three more.
- 1814-1816 Portsmouth.
|
|
|
