While escorting a large convoy to the West Indies in December 1799, Glenmore and the frigate Aimable encountered two French vessels, the frigate Sirène and the corvetteBergère, and the recently captured East IndiamanCalcutta. After a 35-minute engagement, Amiable drove off the French warships while Glenmore recaptured Calcutta. In February 1800, Glenmore underwent a refit at Plymouth, during which the naval architect Robert Seppings introduced diagonal trusses that reduced hogging.
Glenmore was subjected to another mutiny in May 1801, precipitated by a change of captain. The new commander was a stricter disciplinarian than his predecessor, and the crew felt that most of the punishments were excessive or unwarranted. Two of the ringleaders were court-martialled and hanged the following October. Glenmore continued to serve on the Irish Station until the Treaty of Amiens was ratified in March 1802, after which she served as a troopship for soldiers returning from the continent. She was later fitted as a receiving ship at Plymouth and remained there in ordinary until sold on 3 November 1814.
The first two, HMSAmazon and HMSEmerald, were ordered on 24 May 1794, and were built from oak but the second pair, ordered on 24 January 1795, Glenmore and her sister ship, HMSTrent, were constructed of pitch pine.[1] The motive for the use of pine – an inferior material for shipbuilding[3] – was speed of construction. It was much quicker to build a ship with this material because softwoods are easier to work and do not require as much seasoning;[4][5] the drawback was that these fir-built ships were less durable than their oak-built counterparts. The two frigates underwent design alterations common in fir-built ships, notably a flat, square tuck stern.[4]
Work began in March when Glenmore's keel of 119ft 6in (36.42m) was laid down at Woolwich Dockyard under the supervision of the master shipwright John Tovey. As built, her dimensions were 143ft (44m) along the gundeck with a beam of 38ft 2in (11.63m) and a depth in hold of 13ft 6in (4.11m), making her 925 87⁄94tons burthen (bm).[1] Glenmore was ordered and laid down as HMS Tweed, but was renamed on 30 October 1795, before her launch on 24 March 1796. [1]
Glenmore was a fifth rate, built to carry a main battery of twenty-six 18-pounder (8.2-kilogram)long guns on her gun deck, eight 12 pounders (5.4 kilograms) on the quarterdeck and two on the forecastle. She additionally carried eight 32 pounders (15 kilograms)carronades; six on the quarterdeck and two on the forecastle. When fully manned, she would carry a complement of 264 officers, men, and boys.[1]
The Amazon class of 1795 were originally intended as a series of four, but by the time the first one had been launched in 1795, Rule had already drawn up plans for HMSNaiad, an expanded version that was larger at 1,013 tons (bm), had a complement of 284 men and carried 38 guns.[1] A third design was unveiled in 1796, also with 38 guns but larger still at 1,038 tons (bm) and with a crew of 300 men. Two were ordered, one in April 1796 and a second in February 1797.[6][1]
Career
George Duff, Glenmore's first captain, from April 1796 to January 1801
Captain George Duff commissioned Glenmore in April 1796 for the North Sea and after joining Admiral Adam Duncan's fleet in July, spent several months harassing enemy shipping and escorting convoys to and from the Baltic.[1][7] Transferring to the Western Squadron in May 1797, she sailed to Portsmouth, where she became embroiled in the fleet mutiny, a dispute over pay and conditions.[7][8]Glenmore anchored at Spithead on 7 May and at 13:00 on 9 May, a group of delegates from the ships already in revolt, came on board and spoke to her complement. That evening, a portion of the crew broke into the small arms and powder lockers, threw the sergeant of marines overboard and posted guards throughout the ship. The following day, the mutineers requested that they be allowed to return to work, which was agreed, although they sent a boat to St Helens, Isle of Wight for further instructions from the delegates.[9] On its return at 16:00, another marine was put over the side and the next morning, the crew ordered several of the officers and the surgeon's mate, off the ship.[10]Glenmore remained in a state of mutiny until 16 May when it was announced that most of the mutineers demands had been met and that all those involved would be pardoned.[11][12]
Glenmore sailed to join the Irish station on 26 May, capturing a smuggler in Cawsand Bay on the way, before putting in to Belfast Lough.[13] While on escort duty in May 1798, Glenmore heard from a passing ship, that the United Irishmen had risen up. Duff immediately ordered the ship to seek out the rest of the squadron. On 20 June, Glenmore's crew took part in a boat action against rebel outposts near Wexford. They were joined in their endeavours by men from the frigates HMSEndymion, Melampus, Phoenix and Unicorn. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 ended when its leaders were killed at the Battle of Vinegar Hill.[13]Glenmore transferred to Cork in August, from where she guarded the Western Approaches.[1][13]
In December 1799 Glenmore and the sixth rate frigate HMSAimable were escorting the West India convoy, comprising 40 to 50 vessels, from Cork. At 09:00, on 17 December, one of the convoy spotted an unidentified sail to the south-west of Porto Santo. Amiable was sent to investigate and at 09:30 was close enough to make out three vessels; two French men-of-war and a larger ship with the uppermost sections of her masts removed.[14]Amiable returned at 10:00 and after a short discourse, the two British frigates set off in pursuit. Just after 11:00, the chase split when the larger ship suddenly changed direction. Having yet to identify her and thinking she might be a razee, Duff, in the more powerful of the two British ships, followed. At around 12:30, after Glenmore had got within range, her quarry pulled up and showed a British ensign to indicate her surrender.[15]Glenmore took possession of what turned out to be the East IndiamanCalcutta, which had been captured that same morning; René Lemarant de Kerdaniel was captain of the prize crew.[16] At 14:40, Aimable was close enough to engage the two ships she had been chasing.[17] A 35-minute action ensued before the two French vessels, which were identified as the frigate Sirène and the corvette Bergère, departed. They had been sailing to Cayenne from Rochelle.[lower-alpha 1][14][18]Bergère was carrying Victor Hugues as a passenger, to his new appointment as Governor of French Guiana.[18]Sirène, captained by Citoyen Reignaud, had as prisoners Captain Haggy, Calcutta's master, her first and second mates, and 50 of her lascars and seamen. Calcutta arrived in Plymouth on 12 January 1800.[19][16] On 18 January 50 lascars were landed from Calcutta and taken to China House, which served as a hospital. The lascars were sick and suffering from the cold.[20]
Robert Seppings, Surveyor of the Navy, had diagonal trusses fitted to Glenmore in 1800 while he was the assistant master shipwright at Plymouth
Glenmore returned to Plymouth from Cork on 6 February.[21] Six days later she came into Plymouth again and went up the harbour to undergo a refit, putting into dock on 19 March.[22] During the refit, the assistant master shipwright Robert Seppings introduced, as an experiment, diagonal trusses that reduced hogging.[23]Glenmore sailed again on 10 June,[24] later capturing the French schooner Esperance and recapturing two British merchant vessels, William and Salem.[25][lower-alpha 2] All three captures were sent into Cork; Salem arriving on 1 July, Esperance on 8 July and William on 11 July.[27][28][26] Later in the year, Glenmore and the frigate HMSHind escorted to Madeira the fleet for the West Indies from Cork and Portsmouth. After leaving Madeira on 29 October, they continued some distance to the south-west before Glenmore began the return journey to her station.[29]
Duff transferred to the 74-gun third rateship of the lineHMSCourageaux in January 1801 and was replaced by Captain John Talbot.[30]Glenmore continued to serve on the Irish station[1] where she was later subjected to a further mutiny.[31] The revolt was precipitated by the change of captain; Talbot was not popular, a much stricter disciplinarian who ordered up to five times as many floggings as his predecessor. The crew felt that most of the punishments were excessive or unwarranted and on 2 May, petitioned the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Gardner who chose to ignore it.[31] Tensions reached a peak on 5 June when, following an altercation in which two seamen insulted the boatswain's mate, more floggings were ordered.[32] In protest, the crew deserted their posts and went below but were retrieved at sword point by the officers. The punishments were then carried out while the marines stood sentry with their muskets loaded.[33] During the subsequent investigation it transpired that around 150 of the crew had sworn an oath on the bible, that they would not go to sea with their current captain.[33] Two of the ringleaders were court-martialled and hanged the following October.[31] Three others stood trial but were released after the charge was not proven. [34]
On 15 May Lloyd's List reported that Glenmore had recaptured two merchant vessels that had fallen prey to the French privateer Braave. One vessel was Camilla, Preston, master, which had been sailing from Grenada to Liverpool. The other was Guiana Planter, Wedge, master, which had been sailing from St Kitts to Portsmouth. Glenmore sent Guiana Planter into Cork.[35]Braave later captured six more merchant vessels, Victory, Vine, Ann, Urania, Cecilia, and Urania. Braave put all her prisoners on Ann, Silk, master, and let her go. Glenmore recaptured Urania and set off after Braave.[36]Glenmore then recaptured West Indian, Victory, Vine, and Cecilia. They and Urania all arrived at Cork.[37][38]
Glenmore had been taking a convoy to New Foundland in June when they met another convoy travelling in the opposite direction. This second group of merchantmen had become separated from its escort in a storm and Glenmore offered her protection. On approaching the Irish coast, a French privateer attacked and set on fire one of the convoy before being chased and captured by Glenmore[13]
The Treaty of Amiens was ratified in March 1802, bringing the war to an end. Glenmore then served as a transport for returning troops.[34] In June Glenmore escorted the frigate HMS Engageante to Plymouth. Engageante had been a hospital and then receiving ship at Cork and was under the command of Lieutenant Donocliff.[39] Although it was expected that Engageante would be broken up at Plymouth,[39] that did not occur until 1811.[40]
In July Captain John Maitland replaced Talbot[1] and on 30 July, Glenmore sailed in company with the frigates HMSAmethyst and Galatea for the Isle of Wight. There they were to pick up Dutch troops for return to Holland.[41] In December Maitland commissioned another frigate, HMSBoadicea.[42]Glenmore was then temporarily fitted as a receiving ship at Plymouth before being placed in Ordinary there.[1]
The "Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy" offered "Glenmore, of 36 guns and 926 tons", lying at Plymouth, for sale on 3 November 1814.[43] She sold there on that date for £1,990.[1]
Notes
↑ Volume 3 of the Naval Chronicle has the French travelling in the opposite direction, from Cayenne to France[16]
↑ The French privateer Minerve had captured William, LeQuesne, master, as William was sailing from the West Indies to Guernsey.[26]
HMS Galatea was a fifth-rate 32-gun sailing frigate of the British Royal Navy that George Parsons built at Bursledon and launched in 1794. Before she was broken up in 1809 she captured numerous prizes and participated in a number of actions, first in the Channel and off Ireland (1794–1803), and then in the Caribbean (1802–1809), including one that earned her crew the Naval General Service Medal.
Révolutionnaire, was a 40-gun Seine-class frigate of the French Navy, launched in May 1794. The British captured her in October 1794 and she went on to serve with the Royal Navy until she was broken up in 1822. During this service Revolutionnaire took part in numerous actions, including three for which the Admiralty would in 1847 award clasps to the Naval General Service Medal, and captured several privateers and merchant vessels.
Coquille was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class, and launched in 1794. The Royal Navy captured her in October 1798 and took her into service as HMS Coquille, but an accidental fire destroyed her in December 1798.
Pomone was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, launched in 1785. The British captured her off the Île de Batz in April 1794 and incorporated her into the Royal Navy. Pomone subsequently had a relatively brief but active career in the British Navy off the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of France before suffering sufficient damage from hitting a rock. Due to this, the ship was taken out of service and then broken up in 1803.
Sibylle was a 38-gun Hébé-class frigate of the French Navy. She was launched in 1791 at the dockyards in Toulon and placed in service in 1792. After the 50-gun fourth rate HMS Romney captured her in 1794, the British took her into service as HMS Sybille. She served in the Royal Navy until disposed of in 1833. While in British service, Sybille participated in three notable single-ship actions, in each case capturing a French vessel. On anti-slavery duties off West Africa from July 1827 to June 1830, Sybille captured many slavers and freed some 3,500 slaves. She was finally sold in 1833 in Portsmouth.
Engageante was a 26-gun frigate of the French Navy, only ship of her class, built to a design by Jean-François Etienne. The British captured her in 1794 and converted her to a hospital ship. She served as a hospital ship until she was broken up in 1811.
HMS Topaze was a Royal Navy 32-gun frigate, originally completed in 1791 as a French Magicienne-class frigate. In 1793 Lord Hood's fleet captured her at Toulon. The Royal Navy took her into service under her existing name. She was broken up in 1814.
The Sirène was a 40-gun Coquille class frigate of the French Navy. She took part in a number of campaigns and actions before she was badly damaged in a battle on 22 March 1808. Refloated after being beached to avoid capture, she was hulked. Sirène was broken up in 1825.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley, converted to a Royal Navy 56-gun fourth rate. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia in a voyage that became a circumnavigation of the world. The French 74-gun Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her.
HMS Porcupine was a 24-gun Porcupine-class sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy built in 1777 and broken up in 1805. During her career she saw service in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.
HMS Alcmene was a 32-gun Alcmene-class fifth rate of the Royal Navy. This frigate served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars under the command of several notable officers. Alcmene was active in several theatres of the war, spending most of her time cruising in search of enemy vessels or privateers, and escorting convoys. She fought at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 and served in the blockade of the French coasts during the later Napoleonic Wars until she was wrecked on the French coast in 1809.
HMS Moucheron was a French privateer, built in 1799, that the British captured in 1801. The British government purchased her in 1802 for the Royal Navy. She foundered in 1807 in the Mediterranean without leaving a trace.
HMS Sprightly was a 10-gun cutter of the Royal Navy, built to a design by John Williams, and the name ship of her two-vessel class of cutters. She was launched in 1778. The French captured and scuttled her off the Andulasian coast in 1801.
The Dutch ship sloop Havik was launched in 1784 and served in the Batavian Navy. The British captured her in 1796 at the capitulation of Saldanha Bay. She then served briefly in the Royal Navy as HMS Havick before she was wrecked in late 1800.
HMSEmerald was a 36-gun Amazon-class fifth rate frigate that Sir William Rule designed in 1794 for the Royal Navy. The Admiralty ordered her construction towards the end of May 1794 and work began the following month at Northfleet dockyard. She was completed on 12 October 1795 and joined Admiral John Jervis's fleet in the Mediterranean.
The French brig Suffisante was launched in 1793 for the French Navy. In 1795 the Royal Navy captured her and took her into service under her existing name. HMS Suffisante captured seven privateers during her career, as well as recapturing some British merchantmen and capturing a number of prizes, some of them valuable. She was lost in December 1803 when she grounded in poor weather in Cork harbour.
Aimable was an Alcmène-class 26-gun frigate of the French Navy.
HMS Barbadoes was originally a French privateer and then a slave ship named Brave or Braave. A British slave ship captured her in September 1803. From 1803 to 1804 she became the British privateer Barbadoes for a few months. In 1804 the inhabitants of Barbados purchased her and donated her to the Royal Navy, which took her into service as HMS Barbadoes. She wrecked on 27 September 1812.
HMS Trent was a fifth-rate sailing frigate of 36 guns, built for the Royal Navy and launched in February 1796. She carried a main battery of twenty-six 18-pounder (8.2-kilogram) long guns. She and her sister ship HMS Glenmore were constructed from pitch pine rather than oak.
The Amazon-class frigates of 1795 were a set of four 36-gun sailing frigates built for the Royal Navy and designed by William Rule. The first pair were constructed from oak and launched in July 1795. A second pair had already been ordered in January that year, to be made from pitch pine, one launched in February and the other in March of 1796. All four of the new class carried a main battery of twenty-six 18-pounder (8.2 kg) long guns supplemented with eight 32-pounder (15 kg) carronades and ten long guns, 9-pounder (4.1 kg) for the first pair, 12-pounder (5.4 kg) for the second batch, on the upperworks.
References
Anne Veronica Coates; Philip McDougal, eds. (2011). The Naval Mutinies of 1797: Unity and Perseverance. Cambridge University Press. ISBN9781782040057.
Gardiner, Robert (2004). Warships of the Napoleonic Era: Design, Development and Deployment. Barnsley, United Kingdom: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-108-3.
Stephen, Leslie (1897). Dictionary of National Biography. Smith, Elder, & Company.
Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-86176-246-7.
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