HMS Barrosa was a frigate launched in 1812 for the Royal Navy. During the War of 1812 she captured several prizes. After the war she spent a decade or so (1823–1833) on harbour duties. The navy sold Barrosa in 1841.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Barrosa |
| Ordered | 4 April 1811 |
| Builder | Deptford Dockyard |
| Laid down | October 1811 |
| Launched | 21 October 1812 |
| Commissioned | 25 October 1812 |
| Fate | Sold 25 May 1841 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type | Apollo-class frigate |
| Tons burthen | 94730⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 38 ft 3 in (11.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 3+1⁄2 in (4.1 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 264 |
| Armament |
|
Career
editCaptain William Henry Shirreff commissioned Barrosa on 25 October 1812. He sailed her for North America on 31 January 1813. She was serving as an escort to a convoy for the West Indies and the Brazils.
War of 1812
editOn 22 May 1813, Barrosa captured the American schooner William and Thomas, of 25 tons (bm). Barrosa kept her prize as a ship's tender.[2]
Barrosa was among the British naval vessels that shared in the capture of a number of merchant vessels in mid-January 1813:[3][2]
- 11 June: Spanish brig St. Iago
- 12 June: American schooner Surveyor, Governor Strong, and Emily
- 14 June: Star
- 21 June: American ship Herman
Surveyor was a United States revenue schooner of six 12-pounder carronades, 100 tons (bm), and 25 men.[2] Starr had been carrying 4388 barrels and 338 half-barrels of flour. Her captors sent Starr into Halifax, Nova Scotia.[4]
On 20 June 1813 Barrosa and Laurestinus sailed to support Junon, then being attacked by US gun boats on the James River. The Americans withdrew with little damage to either side.[5]
On 25 July 1813 the whale-ship Georgiana, a prize to the USS Essex, with a full cargo of spermaceti oil worth about 100,000 dollars, and armed with 16 guns and with a crew of 41 men, departed Valparaiso for the US.[6] Barrosa captured Georgiana in the West Indies on 28 November,[7] brought her into Bermuda prior to 7 December 1813. Georgiana was carrying close to 3000 barrels as she was carrying the combined cargoes of three captured English whalers as well as its own cargo. Georgiana was also carrying Captain William Stavers, who had been captain of Seringapatam at the time of her capture. Seringapatam had been preying on American ships but Stavers did not have a letter of marque authorizing him to engage in privateering. Consequently, the Americans were sending Stavers to the United States to stand trial for piracy.[6]
On 11 November Barrosa arrived at Halifax as escort to a convoy from Bermuda. She then sailed on to Portsmouth, where she arrived on 27 January 1814. She sailed from Portsmouth on 13 April, escorting a convoy to the West Indies.
Shirreff was invalided home in July 1814. In August 1814 Captain John Maxwell replaced Shirreff. Maxwell's replacement, in about a month, was Captain William McCulloch, of Venerable.
On 29 September McCullough reported the capture of the American letter of marque schooner Engineer, of eight guns and 35 men,[8] and Friends, a schooner of 115 tons and 8 men bound from St. Augustine's to St. Bartholomew's.[9] On 1 October Barrosa arrived at Barbados with a letter of marque schooner that was carrying 900 barrels of flour and that Barrosa had recently captured.
On 13 November Barrosa captured the schooner Clio, of six men and 96 tons (bm). The next day Barrosa captured the 1-gun schooner High Flyer, of 17 men and 135 tons (bm).[10][11]
On 26 December 1814 Barrosa and HMS Barbadoes captured the schooner Gallant Hull, of 10 men and 79 tons (bm).[10]
Barrosa returned to Portsmouth on 11 September 1815 from the West Indies. She then went into ordinary.[1]
Post-war
editBarrosa was fitted as a slop ship between August and September 1823. She then became a receiving ship and ordnance depot until 1833.[1]
Fate
editThe "Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" offered "Barrosa, 38 guns, 947 tons" for sale on 13 May 1841 at Portsmouth.[12] On 25 May 1841 John Beatson purchased her for £1,426.[1]
Citations
edit- ^ a b c d Winfield (2008), p. 170.
- ^ a b c "No. 16771". The London Gazette. 7 September 1813. p. 1770.
- ^ "No. 17399". The London Gazette. 19 September 1818. p. 1668.
- ^ Vice-Admiralty Court (1911), p. 156.
- ^ James (1837), Vol. 6, p.231.
- ^ a b Lossing (1869), p. 726.
- ^ "No. 17058". The London Gazette. 5 September 1815. p. 1814.
- ^ Emmons (1853), p. 176.
- ^ "No. 16959". The London Gazette. 22 November 1814. p. 2314.
- ^ a b "No. 17003". The London Gazette. 15 April 1815. p. 701.
- ^ Emmons (1853), p. 180.
- ^ "No. 19974". The London Gazette. 30 April 1841. p. 1120.
References
edit- Emmons, George Foster (1853). The navy of the United States, from the commencement, 1775 to 1853; with a brief history of each vessel’s service and fate ... Comp. by Lieut. George F. Emmons ... under the authority of the Navy Dept. To which is added a list of private armed vessels, fitted out under the American flag ... also a list of the revenue and coast survey vessels, and principal ocean steamers, belonging to citizens of the United States in 1850. Washington: Gideon & Co.
- James, William; Chamier, Frederick (1837). The Naval History of Great Britain: From the Declaration of War by France In 1793 to the Accession of George IV. London, UK: R. Bentley. OCLC 656581450.
- Lossing, Benson John (1869). The Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812: Or, Illustrations, by Pen and Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the Last War for American Independence. Harper & Brothers.
- Vice-Admiralty Court, Halifax (1911). American vessels captured by the British during the revolution and war of 1812. Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute.
- 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.