2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Battle of Trafalgar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battle of Trafalgar. Show all posts
Thursday, March 1, 2018
HMS Swiftsure (1785): From British, to French and Back to British
From Wikipedia.
74-gun third rate ship of the line, 168 feet long, 46 foot beam.
Served in both the Royal Navy then french navy after her capture in 1801.
As a British ship fought in several famous engagements during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars including the battle of the Nile with the British and the Battle of Trafalgar with the French. It was recaptured by the British at this battle.
Though badly damaged, it was repaired, taken back into service, laid up, recommissioned in 1808, renamed HMS Irresistible and became a prison ship at Chatham until 1816 when it was broken up. It is likely that American prisoners were held on her.
--Brock-Perry
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
HMS Swiftsure (1804)
From Wikipedia.
Ten ships have served in the British Royal Navy with the name Swiftsure, all the way from a galleon in 1573 to a submarine in the 1990s.
Miller Worsley served on the sixth HMS Swiftsure at the Battle of Trafalgar. His ship was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line launched 23 July 1804, 173 feet long, 47.6 beam. It fought at the Battle of Trafalgar. One of the French ships it fought was the former HMS Swiftsure (1787). (See next post for information on this ship.)
It became a receiving ship in 1819 and was broken up in 1845.
--Brock-Perry
Miller Worsley, Royal Navy-- Part 1: At Trafalgar, Transferred to Canada
From Wikipedia.
8 July 1791 to 2 May 1835
Volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1803, became midshipman in 1805. He was at the Battle of Trafalgar serving aboard the HMS Swiftsure (See next post)
Drafted to serve in Canada along with Robert Heriot Barclay (Battle of Lake Erie) and Daniel Pring. Evidently many British officers, both Army and Navy, regarded service in Canada as not too promising for their careers. Much more action and advancement opportunity against the French in Europe.
Promoted to lieutenant 12 July 1813 and in 1814 was 1st lt. on frigate HMS Princess Charlotte on Lake Ontario and participated in the Raid on Fort Oswego.
--Brock-Perry
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Update on Sandwich, Massachusetts: Sir Thomas Hardy and HMS Ramilles
The Commodore Harty referred to on Tuesday was most likely Sir Thomas Hardy (1769-1839) who served off the New England coast during the War of 1812. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars and was at the battle of Trafalgar with Nelson before being sent to North America.
A 74-gun British warship was considered a 3rd Rate Ship-of-the-Line, not a frigate which usually didn't have more than 50 guns.
After Trafalgar, Hardy commanded the 3rd rate ship-of-the-line HMS Triumph and later the 3rd rate ship-of-the-line HMS Ramillies. Most likely the ship off Sandwich was the Ramillies.
Hardy led the fleet that escorted the Army which captured significant portions of coastal Maine, then part of Massachusetts, including Fort Sullivan, Eastport, Machias, Bangor and Castine.
On 10 August 1814, a storming party from the Ramillies was defeated at Stonington Burrough.
--Brock-Perry
A 74-gun British warship was considered a 3rd Rate Ship-of-the-Line, not a frigate which usually didn't have more than 50 guns.
After Trafalgar, Hardy commanded the 3rd rate ship-of-the-line HMS Triumph and later the 3rd rate ship-of-the-line HMS Ramillies. Most likely the ship off Sandwich was the Ramillies.
Hardy led the fleet that escorted the Army which captured significant portions of coastal Maine, then part of Massachusetts, including Fort Sullivan, Eastport, Machias, Bangor and Castine.
On 10 August 1814, a storming party from the Ramillies was defeated at Stonington Burrough.
--Brock-Perry
Monday, June 17, 2013
Mr. Jefferson's Gunboat Navy-- Part 1
Source: Mariner's Museum, Virginia.
Since I have been writing about United States War of 1812 gunboats, I though this article I found from last year was appropriate. It also provides some background information on events leading up to the war.
By 1805, tension between the U.S. and Britain continued to mount. America was angered by the blockade of France, impressment of American sailors and confiscation of our ships. And, after the defeat of te French fleet at the October 1805 Battle of Trafalgar Britain held complete domination of the sea.
From 1800 to 1805 fifty-nine American merchant ships were taken by the British Navy.
From 1805 to 1807 about half of U.S. merchant ships, 469, were taken.
In the year 1807, there was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair and the further impressment of 6,000 sailors from American ships.
Clearly, the countries were approaching the brink of war.
War Clouds On the Horizon. --Brock-Perry
Since I have been writing about United States War of 1812 gunboats, I though this article I found from last year was appropriate. It also provides some background information on events leading up to the war.
By 1805, tension between the U.S. and Britain continued to mount. America was angered by the blockade of France, impressment of American sailors and confiscation of our ships. And, after the defeat of te French fleet at the October 1805 Battle of Trafalgar Britain held complete domination of the sea.
From 1800 to 1805 fifty-nine American merchant ships were taken by the British Navy.
From 1805 to 1807 about half of U.S. merchant ships, 469, were taken.
In the year 1807, there was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair and the further impressment of 6,000 sailors from American ships.
Clearly, the countries were approaching the brink of war.
War Clouds On the Horizon. --Brock-Perry
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Peter Parker's HMS Weazel
From Wikipedia. The final Peter Parker instalment. For someone who had never heard of Peter Parker, I sure know a lot about him now. He sure came from a Royal Naval family and I would have to compare him to the Civil War's William Cushing as far as courage, bravery and willingness to take chances.
The HMS Weazel is also found spelled Weazle and Weasel and was a Royal Navy 18-gun Cruizer Class brig-sloop launched in 1805 at Topsham, Devon. It saw active service in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. Decommissioned in 1815 and broken up in 1825,
Entered service in 1805 under Commander Peter Parker and in August sailed to Cadiz and joined the British fleet under Lord Nelson and was assigned to carefully watch the port exit of Cadiz for movement of the Franco-Spanish fleet and when they did, signalled Nelson.
Parker was angry when he was dispatched to go after five British ships-of-the-line that Nelson had sent to the Strait of Gibraltar, hoping to lure the enemy out. As such, the Weazel missed the Battle of Trafalgar.
Afterwards, continued operations in the Mediterranean against the French.
Another Ship, Another Story. --Brock-Perry
The HMS Weazel is also found spelled Weazle and Weasel and was a Royal Navy 18-gun Cruizer Class brig-sloop launched in 1805 at Topsham, Devon. It saw active service in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. Decommissioned in 1815 and broken up in 1825,
Entered service in 1805 under Commander Peter Parker and in August sailed to Cadiz and joined the British fleet under Lord Nelson and was assigned to carefully watch the port exit of Cadiz for movement of the Franco-Spanish fleet and when they did, signalled Nelson.
Parker was angry when he was dispatched to go after five British ships-of-the-line that Nelson had sent to the Strait of Gibraltar, hoping to lure the enemy out. As such, the Weazel missed the Battle of Trafalgar.
Afterwards, continued operations in the Mediterranean against the French.
Another Ship, Another Story. --Brock-Perry
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