The Dutch naval brig Meermin was built at Flushing; the Zeeland Admiralty purchased her in 1784. The British Royal Navy seized her in 1796. The Royal Navy named her HMS Miermen and registered but never commissioned her; it sold her in 1801.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Dutch Republic | |
| Name | Meermin |
| Builder | Admiralty Zeeland, Flushing |
| Launched | 1784 |
| Fate | Seized 4 March 1796 |
 Great Britain | |
| Name | HMS Miermen |
| Builder | Admiralty Zeeland, Flushing |
| Launched | 1784 |
| Acquired | By seizure on 4 March 1796 |
| Fate | Sold 31 August 1801 |
| General characteristics [1][2] | |
| Tons burthen | 203 (bm)[2] |
| Length | 83 Amsterdam feet[a] |
| Beam | 28 Amsterdam feet |
| Depth of hold | 11+6⁄11 Amsterdam feet |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Brig |
| Complement | 86 |
| Armament |
|
On 9 March 1793 Meerman, of Zeeland, Captain Cornelis Schalk, captured Frende Suskene, John Thomsen, master, off Walcheren. Frende Suskene, of and from Christiansand, was on her way to Ostend or Calais with deals, balks, and users. Lieutenant S. Oudekesk Pool brought her into Dover the next day.[3]
In 1795 at the time of the Batavian Revolution the British Admiralty sent a messenger to Plymouth on 20 January 1795 to the admiral there to detain all Dutch vessels in port. There were six naval vessels, Meerman among them. (Initial British press reports referred to her as Steerman.) There were also six homeward-bound East Indiamen, three outward-bound East Indiamen, and some 60 to 70 other merchant vessels.[4][5] Vice Admiral Sir Richard Onslow and the British Royal Navy took possession 4 March 1796. The crews were removed from their vessels and taken to prison ships.[6] In September orders arrived at Plymouth that the Dutch naval vessels be equipped for immediate service.[7]
The Navy named and registered Miermen on 25 October 1796, but never commissioned her. The "Principal officers and commissioners of His Majesty's Navy" offered Miermen for sale on 31 August 1801.[8] She sold on that day for £160.[2]
Notes
edit- ^ All linear measurements are in Amsterdam feet (voet) of 11 Amsterdam inches (duim) (see Dutch units of measurement). The Amsterdam foot is about 8% shorter than an English foot. The basis of measurement is also different. The data is from Winfield and Van Maanen.[2][1]
Citations
edit- ^ a b van Maanen (2008), p. 26.
- ^ a b c d Winfield (2008), p. 290.
- ^ "News". Lloyd's Evening Post (London, England), March 13, 1793 - March 15, 1793; Issue 5574.
- ^ "News". Whitehall Evening Post (1770) (London, England), January 22, 1795 - January 24, 1795; Issue 7519.
- ^ "News". Morning Post and Fashionable World (London, England), 23 January 1795; Issue 7170.
- ^ "News". Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), 8 March 1796; Issue 20 979.
- ^ "Business". London Packet or New Lloyd's Evening Post (London, England), September 16, 1796 - September 19, 1796; Issue 4227.
- ^ "No. 15396". The London Gazette. 11 August 1801. p. 991.
References
edit- van Maanen, Ron (20 June 2008). "Preliminary list of Dutch naval vessel built or required in the period 1700-1799" (PDF).
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.