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VENERABLE
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(74) |
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Built in 1808, Northfleet.
Broken up in 1838. |
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- 1808 Capt. Sir Home POPHAM, Spithead.
In the summer of 1808 Capt. Andrew KING was appointed to command her pro tem. - For the ill-fated expedition to Walcheren in the summer of 1809 the commander-in-chief, Lord Chatham embarked in VENERABLE.
Rear Ad. STRACHAN had already hoisted his flag in AMETHYST but shifted to VENERABLE so that the two commands would not be separated and they sailed from the Downs at daylight on 28 July.
On arriving in the Stone Deeps that evening with AMETHYST and several smaller vessels they were joined by FISGARD whose captain had placed vessels as marks on the various shoals.
After dark Lieut. GROVES of VENERABLE with pilots from Deal was dispatched to sound the Roompot channel and place vessels at its entrance. - The following morning they were joined by a division of warships and transports conducted by SALSETTE, Rear Ad. Sir Richard KEATS, and Sir Home POPHAM in SABRINA using his knowledge of the navigation, led Sir Richard into the Roompot where they anchored.
When the wind freshened the rest of the ships were got under sail and, led by VENERABLE, they too were taken in and all came to off the Veere Gat. - As soon as the ships were secured Rear Ad. STRACHAN made arrangements to land the army on Walcheren and ordered the gun boats which happened to be near VENERABLE, together with the mortar brigs, to push ion shore to cover the landing and to force the Derhaak battery.
On the 4th. the fort at Rammakens surrendered and this enabled him to advance the whole flotilla.
Rear Ad. STRACHAN shifted his flag to KANGAROO so that he could get nearer to the army headquarters. - VENERABLE took part in the reduction of Flushing on 15 August.
Rear Ad. Lord GARDNER remained with SAN DOMINGO, BLAKE, REPULSE, VICTORIOUS, DENMARK, AUDACIOUS and VENERABLE off Dykeshook until Rear Ad. STRACHAN, hoisting his flag in SAN DOMINGO, ordered them to pass the town at the same time as the advanced batteries opened fire at one o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th.
Unfortunately the wind was too slight to allow him to weigh until the following day, and on the forenoon of the 14th. SAN DOMINGO led the fleet in towards Flushing, the other ships following in succession.
Soon after they opened fire SAN DOMINGO and BLAKE grounded inside the Dog Sand so the remainder were ordered to haul off and anchor.
By the evening the enemy fire had abated and the town was on fire in many places.
The town was summoned but it was not until 2 o'clock on the morning of the 15th. that the French commandant, Gen. Monnet, offered to surrender. - When a fog cleared off the Dodman on the evening of 19 September 1810 VENERABLE found that she was lying near the French ketch privateer ALEXANDRE. She was soon captured after a short chase in which ZENOBIA joined and was found to have only 4 guns mounted although pierced for 16.
The privateer was out of St. Malo and had taken the PEGGY schooner of Bristol off Land's End. - In January 1811 William SYMES, a seamen in VENERABLE, was sentenced at a court martial on board SALVADOR DEL MUNDO in the Hamoaze to 200 lashes for desertion at Deal.
Thomas SMITH, a marine of the ship, was sentenced to death for deserting to the enemy. - 1812 Capt. James DUNDAS, 02/1812, pro tem.
Coast of Spain. - In May 1812 VENERABLE and DIADEM came under the orders of Lord KEITH and, with a marine battalion embarked, they were instructed to operate off on the north coast of Spain such a manner as Sir Home POPHAM judged best for affording assistance to the Spanish patriots.
Capt. POPHAM lost no time in his preparations and acquired hand-grenades, rockets and bullet-proof personal armour, 1,000 sand bags were embarked in DIADEM.
They were ready for sea on 1 June. - On arrival at Corunna he communicated with General Castanos and then sailed in company with RHIN and LYRA.
On the 17th. they exchanged signals with MAGNIFICENT, SURVEILLANTE and DIADEM off Santona and at noon they were joined by MEDUSA, HOTSPUR and ROVER.
The boats of the inshore ships were sent in to Elanchove and in the evening they established contact with Don Gaspar, the guerilla chief, and he promised to surround the town and fort of Lequitio the following night.
On the 19th. the hills were seen to be crowned with guerillas and POPHAM was worried by reports of French reinforcements.
The enemy were in possession of a hill fort and also a fortified convent in the town which could not be bombarded without the town suffering. - The guns of VENERABLE had no effect on the walls of the fort so it was decided to land a battery.
Lieut. GROVES, in spite of a heavy sea breaking on the rocks at the foot of a cliff managed to get a gun ashore and it was dragged to the summit of a hill by 36 pair of draft bullocks, 400 guerillas and 100 seamen.
By sunset a breach had been made in the wall and, although one attack was repulsed, the second gained possession.
The following dawn Sir Home ordered a 24 pounder to be landed to bombard the convent but the French commandant surrendered with 200 of the 119th. regiment.
The convent was blown up and the fort destroyed. - On the 23rd. VENERABLE reached the anchorage at Bermeo and found that the enemy had retired leaving some provisions which were immediately distributed to the poor. She watered during the night and, leaving MAGNIFICENT and ISIS behind, sailed the next morning for Plencia where parties from RHIN and MEDUSA were destroying the works.
- On the 25th. the enemy arrived with a heavy piece of artillery so the squadron moved out of shell range.
The general commanding them appeared to be outraged that the batteries had been destroyed and formed them up on the plain 28 distinct companies and about 60 cavalry. - During July the enemy was considerably harassed by British naval movements along the coast and discussions were held with the Spaniards concerning attacks on Guataria and Santona.
On the 2nd two companies of royal marines were landed at Guetaria but, when parties of French soldiers were discovered and the guerillas were some distance away attacking a detachment of the enemy escorting prisoners from Asturias, they were re-embarked.
On the 6th. VENERABLE arrived off Castro where marines from SURVEILLANTE had been landed to assist the Spaniards.
They were re-embarked when 2,500 French troops approached but the following day the enemy were driven back by the fire of the squadron and another landing was made The castle was captured on the 8th.
On the 12th. VENERABLE anchored off Castro. - A 24-pounder under Lieut. GROVES and a howitzer under Lieut. Lawrence of the Marine Artillery were landed at Guataria from VENERABLE on 15 July and mounted on a hill to the west of the town and another battery from MEDUSA was set up to the eastward.
VENERABLE's guns opened fire at noon and continued until sunset.
The Spaniards were unable to prevent an enemy force of between 2 and 3,000 men arriving from Santander and 3 midshipmen and 29 men from VENERABLE's battery were taken prisoner.
The Spanish wounded were treated on board VENERABLE. - At the beginning of August VENERABLE was in the harbour of Santander with Medusa.
When Sir Home POPHAM learned that the French were on the point of evacuating Bilbao he embarked the marine battalion and sailed for that quarter on the 6th.
RHIN, ISIS and DIADEM landed 2,500 guerillas at Lequitio and the squadron anchored off Bilbao on the 12th.
When they found that the French had left, two companies of the marine battalion landed to destroy the 16 guns mounted on the sea face batteries. - VENERABLE returned to Santander and the squadron there was left under Capt. BOUVERIE after Sir Home POPHAM was ordered to back to Portsmouth on 11 December with VENERABLE, marines and troopships.
- 1813 Flagship of Rear Ad. Philip C. DURHAM 1813 Capt. James Andrew WORTH, North Sea, Channel and West Indies stations.
In December 1813 VENERABLE captured the French letter of marque JASON with a cargo of silk, wine and other merchandise for New York from Bordeaux. - On 20 October two new French frigates, ALCMENE and IPHIGENIE sailed in company from Cherbourg for a six month's cruise.
On 16 January 1814 they were sighted by Capt. FORREST in CYANE off Madeira and he signalled VENERABLE.
During the subsequent chase the superior sailing of VENERABLE left CYANE far astern and she was alone when she came within gun shot of the French ships at the close of the same day. - Capt. WORTH hailed the leeward ship but, receiving an evasive answer, ordered fire to be opened as soon as the guns would bear.
The enemy put up his helm and laid VENERABLE on board but his attempt to board was foiled when Capt. WORTH pushed his men on board her.
and captured the ALCMENE with the loss of only two seamen killed and four wounded.
Messrs. MALTMAN, WALKER and KNEVILL.
master's mates, and Mr GREY, midshipman particularly distinguished themselves.
The enemy losses were two petty officers and 30 seamen killed and 50 wounded. - Lieut. George LUKE was placed in the frigate as prize master while Capt. WORTH transferred the prisoners and repaired his rigging.
Meanwhile CYANE kept the other frigate, the IPHIGENIE, in sight and followed her during the night and the following two days.
VENERABLE ran 153 miles in the direction Capt. WORTH judged that the enemy had taken before coming up with her. She was captured after a chase of 19 hours during which anchors and boats were cut away in her efforts to escape. - The two frigates had first cruised off the Western Islands and then off the coast of Africa where they had captured two Guinea-men.
These they had burnt after taking out the valuable part of the cargo.
Six other prizes were taken off the Canary Islands before they encountered VENERABLE and CYANE. - ALCMENE was taken into the Royal Navy as DUNIRA, later IMMORTALITE, and IPHIGENIE as GLOIRE.
- 1815 Capt. Robert WEMYSS, West Indies.
- 1816 Capt. THOMPSON,
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