HMS Fury (1814)
Encyclopedia
HMS Fury was a Hecla-class
bomb vessel
. Built in the 1810s, she saw wartime service in an attack on Barbary pirates at Algiers
in August, 1816, captained by Constantine Richard Moorsom
. The ship after it left his command was converted to an Arctic
exploration ship.
The Fury made two journeys to the Arctic under the command of William Edward Parry
. Both voyages were made in company with her sister ship, HMS Hecla
.
Her first Arctic journey in 1821 was Parry's second in search of the Northwest Passage
. The farthest point on this trip, the perpetually frozen strait between Foxe Basin
and the Gulf of Boothia
, was named after the two ships: Fury and Hecla Strait
.
On her second Arctic trip, Fury was commanded by Henry Parkyns Hoppner
while Parry, in overall command of the expedition, moved to Hecla. This voyage was disastrous for the Fury. She was damaged by ice while overwintering and was abandoned on 25 August 1825 at what has since been called Fury Beach on Somerset Island. Her stores were unloaded onto the ice, and came to the rescue of many Arctic explorers over the next few decades.
Hecla class bomb vessel
The Hecla class was a class of bomb vessels of the Royal Navy of the early 19th century. They were designed for use as bomb or mortar ships and were very heavily built. Eight ships were launched; all were converted for use as exploration or survey ships...
bomb vessel
Bomb vessel
A bomb vessel, bomb ship, bomb ketch, or simply bomb was a type of wooden sailing naval ship. Its primary armament was not cannon —although bomb vessels carried a few cannon for self-defence—but rather mortars mounted forward near the bow and elevated to a high angle, and projecting their fire in a...
. Built in the 1810s, she saw wartime service in an attack on Barbary pirates at Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
in August, 1816, captained by Constantine Richard Moorsom
Constantine Richard Moorsom
Constantine Richard Moorsom was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. He commanded HMS Fury a Hecla-class bomb vessel which saw wartime service in the Bombardment of Algiers, an attack on Barbary pirates at Algiers in HMS Fury in August, 1816. Moorsom was the son of Admiral Sir Robert Moorsom, a...
. The ship after it left his command was converted to an Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
exploration ship.
The Fury made two journeys to the Arctic under the command of William Edward Parry
William Edward Parry
Sir William Edward Parry was an English rear-admiral and Arctic explorer, who in 1827 attempted one of the earliest expeditions to the North Pole...
. Both voyages were made in company with her sister ship, HMS Hecla
HMS Hecla (1815)
HMS Hecla was a Royal Navy Hecla-class bomb vessel of 372 tons. Launched on 15 July 1815, she saw wartime service in an attack on Barbary pirates at Algiers in August, 1816...
.
Her first Arctic journey in 1821 was Parry's second in search of the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
. The farthest point on this trip, the perpetually frozen strait between Foxe Basin
Foxe Basin
Not to be confused with Fox Bay, Falkland IslandsFoxe Basin is a shallow oceanic basin north of Hudson Bay, in Nunavut, Canada, located between Baffin Island and the Melville Peninsula...
and the Gulf of Boothia
Gulf of Boothia
The Gulf of Boothia is a body of water in Nunavut, Canada, the western side being within Kitikmeot Region while the eastern side is in Qikiqtaaluk Region. It is situated between Baffin Island and the Boothia Peninsula...
, was named after the two ships: Fury and Hecla Strait
Fury and Hecla Strait
Fury and Hecla Strait is a narrow channel of water located in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. Situated between Baffin Island and Melville Peninsula it connects Foxe Basin, to the east, with the Gulf of Boothia, to the west....
.
On her second Arctic trip, Fury was commanded by Henry Parkyns Hoppner
Henry Parkyns Hoppner
Captain Henry Parkyns Hoppner was an officer of the Royal Navy, Arctic explorer, and draughtsman/artist...
while Parry, in overall command of the expedition, moved to Hecla. This voyage was disastrous for the Fury. She was damaged by ice while overwintering and was abandoned on 25 August 1825 at what has since been called Fury Beach on Somerset Island. Her stores were unloaded onto the ice, and came to the rescue of many Arctic explorers over the next few decades.