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HMSScout(1804)

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For other ships with the same name, seeHMS ScoutandDiana (ship).

Scoutand theTorra di Sagonein 1811
History
United Kingdom
NameHMSScout
Ordered27 November 1802
BuilderPeter Atkinson & Co. of Hull
Laid downMay 1803
Launched7 August 1804
Honours and
awards		Naval General Service Medalwith clasp "1 Nov. Boat Service 1809"[1]
FateSold 11 July 1827
United Kingdom
NameDiana
OwnerDaniel Bennett & Sons
Acquiredc.1829 by purchase
FateCondemned after an explosion on 26 April 1843
General characteristics[2]
TypeCruizer-class brig-sloop
Tons burthen38148⁄94,or 382,[3]or 398, or 401 (bm)
Length
  • 100 ft 0 in (30.5 m) (gundeck)
  • 77 ft2+1⁄2in (23.5 m) (keel)
Beam30 ft5+3⁄4in (9.3 m)
Depth of hold12 ft 9 in (3.9 m)
Sail planBrig rigged
Complement121
Armament16 × 32-poundercarronades+ 2 × 6-pounderbow guns
Original builder's plan for theScout

HMSScoutwas aCruizer-class brig-sloop built by Peter Atkinson & Co. at Hull and launched in 1804. She participated in a number of actions and captured several privateers in the Mediterranean during theNapoleonic Wars.The Navy sold her in 1827. In 1829 she reappeared as the British Southern Whale FisherieswhalerDiana.Dianamade three voyages for Daniel Bennett & Son until condemned after an on-board explosion in April 1843 towards the end of her fourth voyage.

Napoleonic Wars

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In 1805Scoutwas under Commander D. H. Mackay. On 4 OctoberMelpomene,Unite,MoselleandScoutleft Portsmouth together as they escorted a convoy of 33 merchant vessels on its way to Gibraltar. However, on 13 October,Scoutand three merchant vessels left the convoy to go toOporto.As a result,Scoutarrived at Gibraltar two days after theBattle of Trafalgar.[4]

Commander William Raitt assumed command in February 1806.[5]On the morning of 27 March 1807, offCadiz,Scout,engaged the SpanishfeluccaprivateerAdmiral,out ofTarifa,under the command of Sebastian Boralta.Scoutsaw the ship about an hour before it anchored, but was five hours getting within cannon range.[6]AsScoutapproached,Admiralfired the two 24-pounder guns she carried in her bows, but the crew ofAdmiralwere forced to cut her anchor cable and run her onshore within 10 minutes of the start of return fire. Evidently pierced by theScout's shots,Admiralbegan filling with water.[6]The strong surf preventedScoutfrom sending her boats to captureAdmiral,but by the time Riatt sailed in the next day the felucca had wrecked completely.[6]As well as the two 24-pounders in her bow,Admiralhad carried two 6-pounder guns and six 12-pounder carronades. Reportedly, she also had had a crew of 90-100 men.[6][7]

On 10 MayScoutcaptured a Spanishsettee,St. Antonio Abad,of nine men and 20 tons burthen. She was sailing fromMarabellatoCeutawith a cargo of bricks, leather and the like.[8]Two days later,Scoutcaptured a Spanish brig carrying bale goods and loaf sugar.[8]

Late on 21 May 1807, Raitt sent his boats and those ofMorgianain pursuit of several vessels spotted sailing past Cape Trafalgar with the aim of clearing the Straits under cover of darkness. The boats succeeded in capturing the privateerSan Francisco Settaro(orFrancisco Solano,orDeterminada).[9]The privateer fired heavily on the boats before they captured her, killing one seaman fromScout,and wounding another.San Francisco Settarowas armed with one 18-pounder gun in her bow and two other carriage guns, together withswivelsand small arms, and had a crew of 29 men. Raitt described his prize "a large Vessel, about Three Months old, and in my Opinion well calculated for the Gun Boat Service at Gibraltar."[10]

On 13 JuneScoutand her sister-shipRedwingchased three vessels into theBarbate river.[8]Raitt sent boats from bothScoutandRedwingto destroy the vessels, which consisted of a Spanish privateer, aLetter of Marque,and a felucca. The Spanish privateer was theDe Bonne Vassallio,of one 24-pounder and two 6-pounder guns. She had a crew of 42 men, all but four of whom escaped ashore.[8]The only British casualty was one man whom a splinter injured when the privateer blew up. The boarding party also captured two signal posts, together with their flags.[8]

On 21 JuneScoutcapturedFair American.[11]That same day,Scoutwas offLagosin theAlgarvewith Major General Spencer on board. From her deck he wrote toViscount Castlereaghwith a brief history of the Spanish insurrection.[12]Four days earlier he had written congratulations from theWindsor Castleon the surrender of the French fleet at Cadiz to the Spanish.[12]

On 11 SeptemberScoutcaptured the Danish shipsGode Haab,Jacob Kielland and Son,andAnna.Then on 20 OctoberScoutdetained the Russian shipBella Aurora.[13]

On 4 April 1808Scoutcaptured the American shipMary Alice.[14]

At the end of the year, on 7 December,Scoutjoined Vice-Admiral LordCollingwood's squadron offToulon.[15]

Early on 14 June 1809, nearCape Croisettesouth of Marseilles, Raitt encountered a convoy of 14 Spanish merchant vessels and two gunboats.[16]Scoutset off in pursuit but after the wind dropped in the afternoon Raitt had to continue the pursuit using his boats. The convoy dispersed as seven of the vessels headed for a small nearby harbour.Scout's boats went in under fire from a shore battery.[16]A landing party captured the battery, spiking the two 6-pounder guns there.[16]The boats then captured and sailed out the seven Spanish vessels. British casualties were one man killed and five wounded.[17]The Spanish vessels were carrying wool, grain, leather, flour and cheese. Raitt destroyed two of the vessels after removing their cargoes; the five others he sent toPort Mahon.[16]

A landing party fromScoutmade a similar attack on a battery atCarry-le-Rouet,some 20 miles west of Marseilles on 14 July.[17]The landing party captured the fort and spiked the guns. In the attack the British killed five enemy soldiers and captured seven, without suffering any loss themselves.[17]At some point in 1809 Commander T. Stamp took temporary command ofScout.[5]

In the middle of August,Scoutput into Gibraltar to repair damage. She had encountered in the Gulf of Genoa two French privateers, one of 20 guns and one of 18 guns.Scoutrepelled the two enemy vessels, but lost six men killed and 25 wounded in the engagement.[18]

In October 1809 Commander Alexander Renton Sharpe replaced Raitt. Between 30 October and 1 NovemberScoutwas part of Hallowell's squadron at the Bay ofRosas.On 30 October, boats fromScoutjoined with boats fromTigre,Cumberland,Volontaire,Apollo,Topaze,Philomel,andTuscanin a cutting out attack after a squadron off the south of France chased an enemy convoy into the Bay of Rosas in theBattle of Maguelone.[19]The convoy had lost its escorting ships of the line,RobusteandLion,ran aground and scuttled by their crew nearFrontignan,but were nevertheless heavily protected by an armed storeship of 18 guns, two bombards, and axebec.Some of the British boats took heavy casualties in the clash, but neitherScoutnor her sister-shipPhilomelsuffered any losses. By the following morning the British had accounted for all eleven vessels in the bay, burning those they did not bring out.[20]In January 1813, prize money was awarded to the British vessels that took part in the action for the capture of the ships of warGromlireandNormande,and of the transportsDragonandIndien.A court declaredInvinciblea joint captor. Head money was also paid forGrondireandNormandeand for the destruction ofLemproyeandVictoire.[21]In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "1 Nov. Boat Service 1809" to all surviving claimants from the action.

On 26 June 1810,ScoutandSuccesscapturedFortune.[22]

Scout,Captain Alexander Renton Sharpe, (far left) at Sagone Bay, 1 May 1811

On 30 April 1811,Scout,together withUniteandPomone,found three French ships laden with wood for the naval arsenal at Toulon that had taken refuge in the Bay of Sagone on Corsica's east coast.[23]The French vessels were anchored under the protection of a shore battery of four guns and a mortar, aMartello towerarmed with a gun overlooking the battery, and some 200 troops with field pieces, assisted by armed local inhabitants, all on a heights overlooking the vessels.[24]The French vessels wereGiraffe,of 26 guns,Nourrice,[25]of 24 guns, and the armed merchant vesselHenriette.

The next day CaptainRobert BarrieofPomonehad boats fromPomoneandScouttow their ships close to the French vessels. After a 90-minute engagement,GiraffeandNourricecaught fire.[24](French records report that their crews set the two vessels on fire to prevent their being captured and then abandoned them.) Brands fromNourriceset fire to the merchant vessel. Barrie had the British withdraw, awaiting the explosion of the French vessels. The battery and the tower fell silent. Shortly thereafter theGiraffeexploded, and then so didNourrice.Some of the timbers fromNourricefell on the tower, demolishing it, with further sparks setting fire to the shore battery, which also blew up. With nothing left to accomplish, the British withdrew. The action cost the British two men killed and 25 wounded, including three men wounded onScout.[24]French casualties were six dead and 30 wounded.

In October 1811,Scoutleft Gibraltar for England. However, a squall carried away her main boom and winds forced her back.[23]Once she was repaired she sailed again, carrying dispatches.[26]

In 1812 Commander G.W. Hooper replaced Sharpe, and in 1813 Benjamin Crispin replaced Hooper.[5]

In January 1813 Commander James Murray was appointed to commandScout,though it may have taken some time for the change of command to be effective. On 17 FebruaryScoutcaptured the French privateerFortune(orFortuna) offCagliariin theStrait of Bonifacio.Fortunewas armed with three guns and carried 36 men; she was three days out ofTunis.[27]One of the prize money announcements for the capture of "Buova La Fortuna" gives the name ofScout'scommander as Crispin.[28]

On 23 July,Scout,withAlcmeneandCephalus,captured the American shipViolet.[29]James Murray may not have assumed command until December 1813.[5]

Post-war

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In 1815Scoutwas in Spithead. On 19 JanuaryScoutsaved thedoghterAlida.[30]In July, Lieutenant Samuel Hellard ofScoutfaced a court martial. The charges were that he had threatened to shoot or drown a seaman who had desertedScout,if the seaman ever returned, and that he had shown disrespect to Murray. Thecourt-martialboard severely reprimanded Hellard and moved his name to the bottom of the lieutenant's list.[31]

In 1816 to 1817Scoutwas in Deptford. In April 1818 she sailed for the Mediterranean under Commander William Ramsden, late ofFerret.By October 1821 she was under Commander John Theed, and at Chatham.[2]

In June 1822 Commander James Wigston took command ofScoutand sailed her to the West Indies.[a]On 3 November she captured the "piratical vessel"Amazonand the 46 men aboard her.[32][b]Scoutthen suffered damage from stranding in May 1823 in the Gulf of Mexico.[2]She might have been lost ifHMSGrecian,Lieutenant John Cawley, had not rendered assistance.[34]

Disposal:Scoutwas paid off in 1825. The "Principal Officers and commissioners of His Majesty's Navy" offered "Scout brig, of 382 tons", lying at Portsmouth, for sale on 11 July 1827.[35]She sold on that day for £1,010 to John Small Sedger for breaking up.[2]

Whaler

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Scoutreappeared in 1829 as the shipDiana,launched at Hull in 1804. She appeared inLloyd's Register(LR) with J.Palmer, master, Bennett, owner, and trade London–South Seas. She had undergone a large repair in 1829.[36]

See also:List of ships owned by Daniel Bennett & Son

1st whaling voyage (1829–1832)

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Captain Palmer sailed from London on 5 May 1829, bound for the waters off New Zealand.Dianawas reported at theBay of Islands,Tongatabu,Honolulu, and Guam. She arrived back at England on 22 April 1832. She had more than 1300 barrels of whale oil.[3]

2nd whaling voyage (1832–1835)

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Captain Heriot (or Harriet, or Hariot) sailed from London on 31 July 1832, bound for Timor and the seas off Japan.Dianawas reported to have been off Japan and at Timor. She returned to England on 1 December 1835 with 500 casks of oil.[3]

3rd whaling voyage (1836–1839)

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Captain Herriott sailed from England on 29 April 1836, bound for Timor. She was reported atLombok,Timor, and the Bay of Islands. She returned to England on 7 July 1839 with 420 casks of whale oil.[3]

Fate

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Captain James May sailed from England on 26 August 1839.Dianawas reported at Mauritius andCoupang.At some point the mate murdered May. She was at Saint Helena on her way home when an explosion took place on board her on 26 April 1843 that caused a great deal of damage and killed at least eight crew members. She was condemned on 29 April.[3][37][38]

The origins of the explosion were unclear. One contemporary report was "[it was] supposed that a train had been laid to her magazine by a dastardly incendiary."[39]

LRfor 1843 had the annotation "Condemned" byDiana'sname.[40]

Notes

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  1. ^For more on James Wigston see:O'Byrne, William R.(1849)."Wigston, James".A Naval Biographical Dictionary.London: John Murray.
  2. ^Bounty money for the 46 men was paid in 1827. A first-class share was worth£175 2s11¼d;a sixth-class share, that of an ordinary seaman, was worth £1 13s 6d.[33]

Citations

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  1. ^"No. 20939".The London Gazette.26 January 1849. p. 246.
  2. ^abcdWinfield (2008),p. 291.
  3. ^abcdeBritish Southern Whale Fishery Database – Voyages:Diana.
  4. ^"No. 15858".The London Gazette.6 November 1805. p. 1367.
  5. ^abcd"NMM, vessel ID 375169"(PDF).Warship Histories, vol iii.National Maritime Museum.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2 August 2011.Retrieved30 July2011.
  6. ^abcd"No. 16027".The London Gazette.9 May 1807. pp. 617–618.
  7. ^United service magazine(1833) February, Part 1, p.272.
  8. ^abcde"No. 16071".The London Gazette.26 September 1807. p. 1278.
  9. ^United service magazine(1807), p.422.
  10. ^"No. 16048".The London Gazette.18 July 1807. p. 960.
  11. ^"No. 16422".The London Gazette.6 November 1810. p. 1768.
  12. ^ab"No. 16161".The London Gazette.9 July 1808. pp. 962–963.
  13. ^"No. 16507".The London Gazette.23 July 1811. p. 1413.
  14. ^"No. 16557".The London Gazette.4 January 1812. p. 8.
  15. ^"No. 16224".The London Gazette.28 January 1809. p. 131.
  16. ^abcd"No. 16295".The London Gazette.15 September 1809. pp. 1435–1436.
  17. ^abcJames (1837), Vol. 6, p.171.
  18. ^Lloyd's List,n°4387 - accessed 28 September 2015.
  19. ^Troude (1867),pp. 56–58.
  20. ^"No. 16319".The London Gazette.29 November 1809. pp. 1602–1604.
  21. ^"No. 16698".The London Gazette.26 January 1813. p. 208.
  22. ^"No. 16818".The London Gazette.27 November 1813. p. 2390.
  23. ^ab"Interesting Intelligence from the London Gazettes".The Gentleman's Magazine.LXXXI(II): 171–172. 1811.Retrieved21 September2015.
  24. ^abc"No. 16502".The London Gazette.6 July 1811. pp. 1248–1250.
  25. ^Demerliac (1996),p. 106, #739.
  26. ^"No. 16540".The London Gazette.12 November 1811. p. 2189.
  27. ^"No. 16719".The London Gazette.10 April 1813. p. 727.
  28. ^"No. 17060".The London Gazette.12 September 1815. p. 1861.
  29. ^"No. 17145".The London Gazette.15 June 1816. p. 1143.
  30. ^"No. 17149".The London Gazette.29 June 1816. p. 1252.
  31. ^Marshall (1829),p. 360.
  32. ^"No. 18410".The London Gazette.2 November 1827. p. 2257.
  33. ^"No. 18415".The London Gazette.16 November 1827. p. 2370.
  34. ^Marshall (1832),p. 154.
  35. ^"No. 18372".The London Gazette.22 June 1827. p. 1346.
  36. ^LR(1829), Supple.pages "D", Seq.№D21.
  37. ^"Shipping Intelligence".The Morning Chronicle.No. 22962. London. 23 June 1843.
  38. ^"Ship News".The Morning Post.No. 22603. London. 23 June 1843. p. 8.
  39. ^"Ships burnt and destroyed" (November 1847)Nautical Magazine: A Journal of Papers on Subjects Connected with Maritime Affairs.Vol.16, p.588.
  40. ^LR(1843), Seq.№D188.

References

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This article includes data released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported UK: England & Wales Licence, by theNational Maritime Museum,as part of theWarship Historiesproject.

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