HMS Magnet (1809)

Last updated

History
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg France
NameSan Joseph
Builder Saint-Malo
Laid down1807
Captured13 February 1809
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameHMS Magnet
Acquired1809 by capture
FateFoundered September 1812
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen2858594 (bm)
Length
  • Overall: 90 ft 5 in (27.6 m)
  • Keel: 69 ft 4+58 in (21.1 m)
Beam27 ft 10 in (8.5 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 3 in (3.1 m)
Sail plan Sloop
Complement
  • Privateer:96
  • Royal Navy:90
Armament

HMS Magnet was the former French privateer San Joseph or San Josepho, built in 1807, that the British captured in 1809. The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Magnet. She disappeared, presumed to have foundered with all hands, while sailing to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in August or September 1812.

Contents

Privateer

San Joseph was a brig-corvette commissioned in Saint-Malo in November 1807 under François-Auguste Blanchard. She made two cruises between 1807 and February 1809. [2]

Capture

On 12 February 1809, HMS Undaunted (1807), Captain Thomas James Maling, sighted the French privateer San Joseph in the Channel. Undaunted discovered San Josephe at dawn, taking her after a chase lasting four hours, and brought her into Spithead the next day. The privateer, which was only four days out from St. Malo, was provisioned for two months and pierced for 18 guns, but mounted only 14, and had a crew of 96 men. [3] [lower-alpha 1]

Career

The Admiralty named San Joseph HMS Magnet, Magnet just having been lost. She underwent fitting at Portsmouth between 14 February and 10 July. She was commissioned under the command of Commander John Smith, who was preparing her for the ill-fated Walcheren Campaign. [5] She served in the campaign and was among the many vessels that shared in the prize money for having served in the Schelde between 30 July and 16 August. [6]

After the Campaign, Magnet apparently saw much boat service at the "entrance of the German Rivers." [7]

Magnet was in company with Desiree on 15 February 1810 when they captured Hoffnung, Lund, master. [8] That same day Desiree and Magnet captured Harmonia. [9] Then on 3 March Magnet recaptured Jean. [10]

Magnet captured the Frouw Heintze on 5 October. [10]

Commander Ferdinand Moore Maurice replaced Smith in 1811. [lower-alpha 2] On 14 April 1812, Magnet sailed for South America. [1]

Fate

On 14 August Magnet accompanied Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, who was sailing to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on San Domingo, together with Poictiers, Sophie, and Mackerel. Magnet parted company with the squadron in a tremendous gale about two weeks out of Halifax, and never arrived. [12] She is believed to have foundered with all hands. [13]

Plans

David Lyon has published the plans of Magnet in his book The Sailing Navy List. [14]

Notes

  1. The prize money for San Joseph was paid out in May 1810, and Captain Maling's share amounted to £1,078 1s 5d (about four times his annual pay), while the commissioned officers received £134 15s 2d, the warrant officers £59 17s 10d, and the rest of the crew between £21 0s 9d and £2 6s 9d dependent on rating. [4]
  2. He was the twin brother of Captain James Wilkes Maurice. After James had conducted a spirited defense of the island of Anholt, Charles Philip Yorke, First Lord of the Admiralty, promised in a letter to James dated 11 April 1811, to appoint Ferdinand to a sloop "at an early opportunity". [11]

Citations

  1. 1 2 Winfield (2008), p. 320.
  2. Demerliac (2003), p. 267, no.2060.
  3. "No. 16228". The London Gazette . 11 February 1809. p. 193.
  4. "No. 16374". The London Gazette . 29 May 1810. p. 782.
  5. Marshall (1833), p. 400.
  6. "No. 16650". The London Gazette . 26 September 1812. p. 1971.
  7. Marshall (1835), pp. 84–5.
  8. "No. 16528". The London Gazette . 5 October 1811. p. 1955.
  9. "No. 16469". The London Gazette . 26 March 1811. p. 580.
  10. 1 2 "No. 16555". The London Gazette . 24 December 1811. p. 2481.
  11. Marshall (1827), p. 449.
  12. Naval Chronicle, Vol. 29, p.68.
  13. Hepper (1994), p. 142.
  14. Demerliac (2003), p. 267, №2060.

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Garland</i> (1807)

HMS Garland was a 22-gun Royal Navy Laurel-class post ship. She was built by Richard Chapman at Bideford and launched on 5 May 1807. She saw action in the War of 1812 and was sold in 1817.

HMS <i>Tartar</i> (1801) Narcissus-class frigate

HMS Tartar was a 32-gun fifth-rate Narcissus-class frigate of the Royal Navy, built at Frindsbury and launched in 1801. She captured privateers on the Jamaica station and fought in the Gunboat War and elsewhere in the Baltic before being lost to grounding off Estonia in 1811.

HMS <i>Persian</i> (1809) Brig-sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Persian was a Cruizer-class brig-sloop built by Daniel List and launched at Cowes in 1809. She captured two privateers before she wrecked in 1813.

HMS <i>Entreprenante</i> (1799) Cutter of the Royal Navy

HMS Entreprenante, was a 10-gun cutter that the Royal Navy captured from the French in 1798. The British commissioned her in 1799 and she served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, participating in the Battle of Trafalgar. She has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. She took part in several small engagements, capturing Spanish and French ships before she was sold in 1812 for breaking up.

HMS <i>Dominica</i> (1810) French schooner

HMS Dominica was the French letter of marque schooner Duc de Wagram, which the British captured in 1809 in the Leeward Islands and took into the Royal Navy in 1810. The American privateer Decatur captured her in 1813 in a notable single-ship action. However, Majestic recaptured her in 1814. She was wrecked in 1815

HMS <i>Pandora</i> (1806) Brig-sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Pandora was launched in 1806. She captured two privateers before she was wrecked in February 1811 off the coast of Jutland.

HMS <i>Orestes</i> (1805) Brig-sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Orestes was a 16-gun brig-sloop of the Seagull class of the British Royal Navy, launched in October 1805. She served during the Napoleonic Wars, primarily in the North Sea and the Channel, where she captured three privateers. The Navy sold her in 1817.

HMS Phipps was the Dutch privateer Two Lydias, launched in 1807, that the British Royal Navy captured in 1808 and took into service as HMS Phipps. Phipps captured two privateers, took part in a notable action, and her crew was subjected to mercury poisoning. She was sold for breaking up in 1812.

HMS Briseis was a 10-gun Cherokee- class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, launched in 1808 at Upnor, on the River Medway. She participated in one notable single ship action before she wrecked in 1816.

HMS Gleaner was the mercantile ketch Gleaner, launched in 1802. She served the Royal Navy as the "hired ketch Gleaner" from 12 July 1808 until the Navy purchased her in 1809. Initially she served as a light vessel and survey vessel. From early 1811 to August 1811 she served in the Mediterranean, where she captured an Ottoman vessel. She then became a yard lighter and a light vessel again. Then in 1812 she was on the North American station where she participated in the capture of several merchant vessels. Next she returned to the Mediterranean where she captured a privateer. Finally, she served off the north coast of Spain where she was wrecked on 2 March 1814.

HMS Calliope was a Cherokee-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, launched in 1808. She operated primarily in the North Sea where she captured numerous small merchant vessels and one French privateer. She also was present at the battle of Lake Borgne, near New Orleans. She was broken up in 1829.

HMS Tobago was a schooner of unknown origin that the British Royal Navy purchased in 1805. In 1806 a French privateer captured her. The Royal Navy recaptured her in 1809 and took her into service as HMS Vengeur before selling her later that year.

HMS <i>Derwent</i> (1807) Brig-sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Derwent was launched in 1807 and later that year became one of the first ships sent by the British Royal Navy to suppress the slave trade.

HMS Plumper was launched in 1807. She captured three small American privateers early in the War of 1812 but was wrecked in December 1812.

HMS <i>Royalist</i> (1807) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Royalist was launched in 1807. She captured many privateers and letters of marque, most French, but also some from Denmark and the United States. Her crew twice were awarded the Naval General Service Medal. She was instrumental in the capture of a French frigate. The Royal Navy sold her in 1819. She then became a whaler, making three complete voyages. She was condemned after a mishap while on her fourth.

HMS Favorite was an 18-gun Cormorant-class ship-sloop, launched in 1806 and broken up in 1821. In her career she sailed as far North America, the Caribbean, Africa, South America, and the Far East. She captured or recaptured several merchant ships and a handful of privateers.

HMS Cracker was a later Archer-class gun brig, launched in 1804. She participated in several actions and captured two small French privateers. She was sold for breaking up in 1816.

HMS Tweed was launched in 1807. On the Jamaica station she captured two small privateers and several merchant vessels. On the North Sea station she captured one small privateers and several merchant vessels. She was wrecked on 5 November 1813 with the loss of more than half her crew.

HMS Avenger was the collier Thames, launched in 1803, that the Royal Navy purchased in 1804 and renamed. During her service she captured a number of prizes. She also captured one French privateer and participated in the capture of the Danish island of Anholt. She wrecked at St Johns Newfoundland on 8 October 1812.

HMS Conflict was launched in 1805. She captured a number of vessels, including privateers, and participated in several major actions. She disappeared in November 1810 with the loss of all her crew.

References