HMS Alert-- Part 2: Surrender to the USS Essex

The Royal Navy bought the collier Oxford in May 1804, for 6805 pounds and renamed her the HMS Alert and was fitted out for naval service at an additional cost of 3730 pounds.  She went through a succession of commanders until Commander Thomas Lamb Poldue Langharne assumed command in January 1812.  On April 5, she sailed to Newfoundland.

Langhorne and the Alert were sailing off Newfoundland searching for the American sloop USS Hornet when they sighted a vessel.  They sailed toward the unknown ship and prepared to engage and as they got closer the stranger raised the American flag.

Shortly thereafter, it was discovered that this American ship was a frigate, the USS Essex, and an attempt was made to disengage, but they were unable to escape.  Outgunned and outnumbered, Langharne was forced to strike.  Casualties on the Alert were three wounded.

The Alert was the first British ship to surrender to the Americans in the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry