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HMS Blossom (1806)
Encyclopedia
HMS Blossom was an 18-gun Cormorant-class
sloop-of-war
. She was built in 1806 and is best known for the 1825–1828 expedition under Captain Beechey
to the Pacific Ocean. She explored as far north as Point Barrow
, Alaska
, the furthest point into the Arctic any non-Inuit
had been at the time. She was finally broken up in 1848.
when they captured the Sally and Hetty, William Fleming, Master.
In the mid-morning of 23 February 1812, a strange schooner sailed towards Blossom, which was five leagues
off Cabrera
, mistaking her for a merchantman. When the schooner realized her mistake a five-hour chase followed before Blossom was able to capture the Jean Bart. Jean Bart was of 147.5 tons burthen
and had been launched in Marseilles only five weeks earlier. She was armed with five 12 and two 6-pounder guns, and had a crew of 106 men under the command of Jean Francis Coulome. She had made no captures but within the previous five days her excellent sailing had enabled her to evade two British frigates and a brig.
Blossom was re-rated as a 24-gun sixth rate in February 1817. She was converted to serve as an exploration ship in 1825, and on her return used as a survey ship from 1829.
at Sheerness
in January 1833, and was broken up at Chatham in August 1848.
Cormorant class ship-sloop
The Cormorant class were built as a 16-gun class of ship-sloops for the Royal Navy, although an extra 2 guns were added soon after completion.-Design:...
sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
. She was built in 1806 and is best known for the 1825–1828 expedition under Captain Beechey
Frederick William Beechey
Frederick William Beechey was an English naval officer and geographer. He was the son of Sir William Beechey, RA., and was born in London.-Career:...
to the Pacific Ocean. She explored as far north as Point Barrow
Point Barrow
Point Barrow or Nuvuk is a headland on the Arctic coast in the U.S. state of Alaska, northeast of Barrow. It is the northernmost point of all the territory of the United States, at...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, the furthest point into the Arctic any non-Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
had been at the time. She was finally broken up in 1848.
Career
On 26 February 1808 Blossom was in company with EclipseHMS Eclipse (1807)
HMS Eclipse was a Royal Navy built by John King at Dover and launched in 1807. She served off Portugal and then in the Indian Ocean at the capture of the Île de France. Shortly thereafter she captured Tamatave. She was sold for mercantile service in 1815.-Service:Eclipse entered service in...
when they captured the Sally and Hetty, William Fleming, Master.
In the mid-morning of 23 February 1812, a strange schooner sailed towards Blossom, which was five leagues
League (unit)
A league is a unit of length . It was long common in Europe and Latin America, but it is no longer an official unit in any nation. The league originally referred to the distance a person or a horse could walk in an hour...
off Cabrera
Cabrera
Cabrera means goatherd in Spanish and Catalan. It may refer to:Places:* Cabrera, Balearic Islands* Cabrera, a town in the northeast of the Dominican Republic* Cabrera, Cundinamarca, a town in Colombia* Cabrera, Santander, a town in Colombia...
, mistaking her for a merchantman. When the schooner realized her mistake a five-hour chase followed before Blossom was able to capture the Jean Bart. Jean Bart was of 147.5 tons burthen
Builder's Old Measurement
Builder's Old Measurement is the method of calculating the size or cargo capacity of a ship used in England from approximately 1720 to 1849. It estimated the tonnage of a ship based on length and maximum beam...
and had been launched in Marseilles only five weeks earlier. She was armed with five 12 and two 6-pounder guns, and had a crew of 106 men under the command of Jean Francis Coulome. She had made no captures but within the previous five days her excellent sailing had enabled her to evade two British frigates and a brig.
Blossom was re-rated as a 24-gun sixth rate in February 1817. She was converted to serve as an exploration ship in 1825, and on her return used as a survey ship from 1829.
Fate
Blossom was hulked as a lazaretteLazaretto
A lazaretto or lazaret is a quarantine station for maritime travellers. Lazarets can be ships permanently at anchor, isolated islands, or mainland buildings. Until 1908, lazarets were also used for disinfecting postal items, usually by fumigation...
at Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
in January 1833, and was broken up at Chatham in August 1848.