| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Sir Sidney Smith |
| Namesake | Admiral Sidney Smith |
| Launched | 1802, Dover |
| Captured | 19 November 1812 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 200, or 250 (bm) |
| Armament |
|
Sir Sidney Smith was a ship launched in 1802 at Dover. She was a West Indiaman. A United States privateer captured her in 1812. The valuable cargo on Sir Sidney Smith, which was totally lost, was the subject of cases in New York and London courts.
Sir Sidney Smith first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1803. [1]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1803 | James Smith | Captain & Co. | London–Jamaica | LR |
| 1804 | J.Smith J.Rees | Captain & Co. | London–Jamaica | LR |
| 1807 | J.Jeffrey Branford | Redman | London–Barbados | LR |
On 26 January 1809 Sir Sidney Smith, Branford, master, had to put back to Portsmouth because she had become leaky. She had been on her way to the Cape of Good Hope. [2] She resumed her voyage on 5 May and arrived at the Cape on 24 August. On 2 October she sailed for Rio de Janeiro.
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1811 | Bradford | Redman | Dartmouth–Demerara | LR |
In January 1811 Lloyd's List reported that Sir Sidney Smith had arrived at Dover from Demerara. She had repelled an attack off the Start by a French privateer schooner. [3]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1812 | Bradford Knight | Redman | London–Barbados | LR |
On 19 November 1812 the United States privateer General Armstrong captured Sir Sidney Smith as Sir Sidney Smith, Knight, master, was sailing from London and Madeira to Berbice. The news item in Lloyd's List stated that General Armstrong was armed with 19 guns. [4] On her way to the United States Sir Sidney Smith foundered off Nantucket on 21 December. She struck on Bass Rip off Sciasconset. All aboard were lost in sight of people on shore. A rescue vessel set out but was driven back by the weather. [5] [6]
Lloyd's Register continued to carry Sir Sidney Smith until 1814, at which time Lloyd's Register annotated her entry with the word "captured".
Her capture did not appear in one of the most comprehensive newspaper records of United States privateers and their prizes. [7]
The loss of Sir Sidney Smith gave rise to the case "Frederick Jenkins et al. (General Armstrong) v. Goods and merchandise from Sir Sidney Smith (1813)", in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
General Armstrong was an American brig built for privateering in the Atlantic Ocean theater of the War of 1812. She was named for Brigadier General John Armstrong, Sr., who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Antelope was launched at Nantes in 1804 under another name. The British captured her and the High Court of Admiralty condemned her on 1 June 1807. She sailed to the Pacific, possibly as a whaler, where she captured a Spanish vessels. In 1811 she made one voyage to India for the British East India Company. She next traded with South America and the Mediterranean. A United States privateer captured her in 1814, but the Royal Navy quickly recaptured her. She was probably broken up circa 1824.
Hebe was launched at Sunderland in 1809 as a West Indiaman. French privateers captured her in December 1811 after a strong resistance that resulted in her sustaining heavy casualties.
Griffin was a Spanish prize, that between 1807 and 1809 made one voyage as a whaler to the British southern whale fishery.
Dry Harbour was launched in 1804 in France under another name. She was apparently captured in 1812 and became a British merchantman. American privateers captured her in 1814 but she was recaptured shortly thereafter. She was condemned at Antigua circa December 1814.
Townshend Packet was launched at Falmouth in 1800 as a packet for the Post Office Packet Service. She made numerous voyages between Falmouth and Lisbon and also sailed to the West Indies, Brazil, and the Mediterranean. She had two engagements with American privateers. In the first the Americans captured her, but then released her. In the second she repelled her attacker. A French frigate captured her in 1814 and then sank her.
HMS Bramble was launched in Bermuda in 1809. She had a relatively brief and uneventful career before the Royal Navy sold her in December 1815. She became the mercantile Bramble, and was last listed in 1824.
Recovery was launched at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1802. She transferred her registry to Quebec City, Quebec in 1806, and to London in 1807. She traded to the Cape of Good Hope and the West Indies. In January 1812 she was condemned at Nevis after she had sustained damage at sea.
Thames was launched in 1807 in Howden. She first sailed as a West Indiaman, and later traded with Brazil. Privateers captured her twice. The first time the British Royal Navy was able swiftly to recapture her. The second time Thames's American captor sent her into Portland, Maine after a single ship action.
Thames was launched in New York in 1798, probably under another name. Bebby & Co., of Liverpool, acquired her circa 1807. An American privateer captured Thames in January 1813 as Thames was sailing back to Liverpool from Africa.
HMS Thrasher was launched in 1804 at Brightlingsea, or Colchester as the merchant vessel Adamant. The British Royal Navy purchased her in June 1804, renamed her, and fitted her out as a gunbrig. She captured numerous small merchant vessels, most of them Dutch or Danish. After the Navy sold her in 1814, she returned to mercantile service under her original name of Adamant. She made a voyage to Malta in 1815 and was wrecked as she was returning to London.
Hart was a brig, possibly launched in America in 1809, and taken in prize. From 1809 on she sailed to the Mediterranean, particularly Malta. A privateer captured her in 1810, but she was recaptured. She burnt in 1811.
John Tobin was a ship launched in 1809 at Hull. In 1810 she recaptured a British vessel and in November 1812 she repelled an attack by an American privateer in a single ship action. From 1816 John Tobin made three voyages to India, sailing under a license from the British East India Company (EIC). She then sailed to Calabar, West Africa. She left there on 28 November 1821 and was never heard of again.
Nimble was built in Kingston upon Hull in 1802. She traded with Portugal, first from Hull and then from Liverpool. She was lengthened in 1806. Later, she traded between London and Brazil, and then London and the West Indies. An American privateer captured her in 1814. She was recaptured and then disappeared from ship arrival and departure (SAD) data.
Cossack was launched in 1812 in Sunderland and first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1813.
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.
Commerce was a French vessel launched in 1798 and taken in prize in 1800. Initially she sailed as a West Indiaman. Then between 1801 and the end in 1807 of British participation in the triangular trade in enslaved people, Commerce made four voyages as a slave ship and also spent some time in 1803 cruising as a privateer. Afterwards, she continued to trade between Liverpool and West Africa. During one voyage in 1811 a French privateer captured her, but Commerce was recaptured. She was wrecked in November 1813 while returning to Liverpool from South America.
Mary Ann was launched in 1807 at Liverpool. She made one voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She then became a West Indiaman. From 1811 she became a Falmouth packet. In 1813 a United States privateer captured her.
Grand Sachem was launched at Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1801. She was registered at Bideford in 1803, but until 1815 sailed from Milford Haven. Between approximately 1803 and 1822, she made eight voyages as a whaler in the British southern whale fishery. She was last listed in 1822 and was broken up in 1826.
Ramoncita was launched at Shields in 1809. She was captured and recaptured in 1812, an event that gave rise to a case in insurance law and salvage. Then in 1813 she participated in a single ship action in which, despite heavy casualties, she was able to repel the attack of a US privateer. She capsized later in 1813 and was subsequently condemned.