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HMS Hinchinbrook (1778)
Encyclopedia
HMS Hinchinbrook was a Royal Navy
28-gun sixth rate frigate. She was Captain Horatio Nelson's
second navy command, after the brig
, and his first as post-captain
.
Astrée, built in 1778 at Nantes
. Reportedly, she was armed with 20 6 pounders and four 9 pounders, and had a crew of 125 men. She had a relatively short privateering career however. A British squadron led by captured her off Cape François, Cuba
on 13 October 1778. A prize crew then took her into port where the Royal Navy
purchased her for the sum of £5,650 on 1 December 1778.
had intended to have Hinchinbrook upgraded to a 32-gun fifth rate, but this never came about. Instead, she entered the Royal Navy
as a 28-gun sixth rate, with a crew of 200 men. She was commissioned that December at Jamaica
under Commander Christopher Parker. In May 1779, Captain Charles Nugent replaced Parker, who had been promoted to captain in March. In September, Captain Horatio Nelson
took command of Hinchinbrook and escorted a convoy to Greytown, Nicaragua
.
Nelson and the Hinchinbrook were based in the San Juan River
from January until April 1780. Hinchinbrook's assignment was to support an expedition that Major-General John Dalling's
wanted to capture the Spanish colonies in Central America, including an assault on the fortress of San Juan. Hinchinbrook was to take troops to the mouth of the San Juan River and wait for their return. The troops would go 70 miles up the river, take the fort, and then go on to capture other Spanish possessions. The expeditionary force was small, it was the dry season and so the river was low, and the climate was putrid. Nelson decided to leave Hinchinbrook and take the troops up the river himself. He used small boats that would ground in the shallows and have to be dragged by hand. At one point, a barefoot Nelson led a small group of sailors to capture the out fort of San Bartholomew. The force eventually did reach Fort San Juan and captured it, but between war and disease, about 140 of Hinchinbrook's crew of 200 men died and the whole expedition too was decimated. Nelson himself became ill, and debilitated by dysentery, withdrew the Hinchinbrook back down the river. His friend Captain Cuthbert Collingwood
replaced him in command of the Hinchinbrook and brought the remainder of the expedition back to Jamaica. (Nelson and Collingwood had served together three years earlier in HMS Lowestoffe
; the transport Victor took Nelson from Hinchinbrook to Jamaica
, where he took command of the frigate of 44 guns.)
Collingwood remained in command of Hinchinbrook until December, when Captain Charles Hotchkys replaced him. His replacement, in February 1781, was Captain George Stoney, who in turn was replaced by Captain Sylverius Moriaty in June 1781. Moriaty was among many of the navy personnel who suffered in the unhealthy climate of the West Indies, and he was twice relieved during his period of command by Captain John Fish due to his health problems.
In February 1782 the Hinchinbrook passed to her final commander, Commander John Markham. Markham was promoted to captain on 3 January 1783.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
28-gun sixth rate frigate. She was Captain Horatio Nelson's
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
second navy command, after the brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, and his first as post-captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
.
Privateering career
The Hinchinbrook started life as the French privateerPrivateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
Astrée, built in 1778 at Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
. Reportedly, she was armed with 20 6 pounders and four 9 pounders, and had a crew of 125 men. She had a relatively short privateering career however. A British squadron led by captured her off Cape François, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on 13 October 1778. A prize crew then took her into port where the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
purchased her for the sum of £5,650 on 1 December 1778.
British career
Admiral Sir Peter ParkerSir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet was a British naval officer.-Naval career:Peter Parker was born probably in Ireland. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1743 and captain in 1747. In 1761, he took command of HMS Buckingham and helped cover operations on Belle Île...
had intended to have Hinchinbrook upgraded to a 32-gun fifth rate, but this never came about. Instead, she entered the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a 28-gun sixth rate, with a crew of 200 men. She was commissioned that December at Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
under Commander Christopher Parker. In May 1779, Captain Charles Nugent replaced Parker, who had been promoted to captain in March. In September, Captain Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
took command of Hinchinbrook and escorted a convoy to Greytown, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Nelson and the Hinchinbrook were based in the San Juan River
San Juan River (Nicaragua)
The San Juan River , also known as El Desaguadero , is a 192.06 km river that flows east out of Lake Nicaragua into the Caribbean Sea. A large section of the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica runs on the right bank of the river...
from January until April 1780. Hinchinbrook's assignment was to support an expedition that Major-General John Dalling's
Sir John Dalling, 1st Baronet
General Sir John Dalling, 1st Baronet was a British soldier and colonial administrator.Dalling was the son of John Dalling, of Bungay, Suffolk, by his wife Anne, a daughter of Colonel William Windham of Earsham, Norfolk, who was the second son of William Windham I, of Felbrigg Hall...
wanted to capture the Spanish colonies in Central America, including an assault on the fortress of San Juan. Hinchinbrook was to take troops to the mouth of the San Juan River and wait for their return. The troops would go 70 miles up the river, take the fort, and then go on to capture other Spanish possessions. The expeditionary force was small, it was the dry season and so the river was low, and the climate was putrid. Nelson decided to leave Hinchinbrook and take the troops up the river himself. He used small boats that would ground in the shallows and have to be dragged by hand. At one point, a barefoot Nelson led a small group of sailors to capture the out fort of San Bartholomew. The force eventually did reach Fort San Juan and captured it, but between war and disease, about 140 of Hinchinbrook's crew of 200 men died and the whole expedition too was decimated. Nelson himself became ill, and debilitated by dysentery, withdrew the Hinchinbrook back down the river. His friend Captain Cuthbert Collingwood
Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood was an admiral of the Royal Navy, notable as a partner with Lord Nelson in several of the British victories of the Napoleonic Wars, and frequently as Nelson's successor in commands.-Early years:Collingwood was born in Newcastle upon Tyne...
replaced him in command of the Hinchinbrook and brought the remainder of the expedition back to Jamaica. (Nelson and Collingwood had served together three years earlier in HMS Lowestoffe
HMS Lowestoffe (1761)
HMS Lowestoffe was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. Built during the latter part of the Seven Years' War, she went on to see action in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary War, and served often in the Caribbean...
; the transport Victor took Nelson from Hinchinbrook to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, where he took command of the frigate of 44 guns.)
Collingwood remained in command of Hinchinbrook until December, when Captain Charles Hotchkys replaced him. His replacement, in February 1781, was Captain George Stoney, who in turn was replaced by Captain Sylverius Moriaty in June 1781. Moriaty was among many of the navy personnel who suffered in the unhealthy climate of the West Indies, and he was twice relieved during his period of command by Captain John Fish due to his health problems.
In February 1782 the Hinchinbrook passed to her final commander, Commander John Markham. Markham was promoted to captain on 3 January 1783.