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HMS Pearl (1855)
Encyclopedia
HMS Pearl was a Pearl-class 21-gun screw corvette
of the Royal Navy
launched in 1855, displacing 2187 tons.
175 of the ship's crew were formed into Pearls Naval Brigade
in September 1857 during the Indian Rebellion of 1857
. The small force, armed largely with rifles, took part in several actions. It was accompanied in many of these by a similar force formed from the crew of HMS Shannon
.
The ship was captained by Edward Southwell Sotheby from its commission in 1855 to its return from India in 1859, then by John Borlase from 23 August 1859 to 18 June 1864 when the ship was paid off in Portsmouth. Pearl sailed around the East Indies
and China
and played a part in the Taiping Rebellion
and the bombardment of Kagoshima during the Anglo-Satsuma War.
In May of 1861 the Pearl was involved in an incident
involving a British merchant ship named North Star and Chinese pirates. On May 13, pirates in a junk
attacked the North Star off the coast of Hong Kong Island
. They killed or mortally wounded at least five members of the crew and stole over 4,000 dollars worth of gold before abandoning the ship. Only two survivors remained on the ship and they hid from the pirates until they left the North Star and then they set sail for the port of Hong Kong
. HMS Pearl was anchored off Green Island
at the time and she eventually recovered both the merchantman and the survivors.
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
of 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...
launched in 1855, displacing 2187 tons.
175 of the ship's crew were formed into Pearls Naval Brigade
Pearl's Naval Brigade
Pearl's Naval Brigade was formed on 11 September 1857 when 175 officers and men of Royal Navy ship formed a Naval Brigade which operated ashore during the Indian Mutiny with the Gurkhas and Sikhs providing artillery support. The Brigade engaged in numerous actions against the rebel forces and most...
in September 1857 during the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
. The small force, armed largely with rifles, took part in several actions. It was accompanied in many of these by a similar force formed from the crew of HMS Shannon
HMS Shannon (1855)
HMS Shannon was a Liffey-class steam frigate of the Royal Navy.She was originally ordered as a sail driven Leander-class frigate,. but was re-ordered as screw frigate on 4 April 1851. She was built at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched on 24 November 1855...
.
The ship was captained by Edward Southwell Sotheby from its commission in 1855 to its return from India in 1859, then by John Borlase from 23 August 1859 to 18 June 1864 when the ship was paid off in Portsmouth. Pearl sailed around the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and played a part in the Taiping Rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
and the bombardment of Kagoshima during the Anglo-Satsuma War.
In May of 1861 the Pearl was involved in an incident
North Star Affair
The North Star Affair occurred in May of 1861 when Chinese pirates attacked the British merchant ship North Star. Several men were killed in the incident, including a Royal Navy officer, and the pirates escaped capture with 4,000 dollars worth of gold.-Affair:The affair began on May 13, 1861, when...
involving a British merchant ship named North Star and Chinese pirates. On May 13, pirates in a junk
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
attacked the North Star off the coast of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
. They killed or mortally wounded at least five members of the crew and stole over 4,000 dollars worth of gold before abandoning the ship. Only two survivors remained on the ship and they hid from the pirates until they left the North Star and then they set sail for the port of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. HMS Pearl was anchored off Green Island
Green Island, Hong Kong
Green Island is an island off the northwest coast of Kennedy Town on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, separated by the Sulphur Channel. A smaller island nearby to the east, uninhabited, is called Little Green Island...
at the time and she eventually recovered both the merchantman and the survivors.