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HMS Recruit (1806)
Encyclopedia
HMS Recruit was an 18-gun Cruizer class
brig-sloop of the Royal Navy
, launched in 1806 at Sandwich, Kent
. She is best known for an act of pique by Cmdr. Warwick Lake
, who marooned a seaman, and for an inconclusive but hard fought ship action under Cmdr. Charles John Napier against the French corvette Diligente
. She captured a number of American vessels as prizes during the War of 1812
before being laid up in 1815 and sold for breaking up in 1822.
Recruit was ordered on 27 January 1806 from the shipwright Andrew Hills, of Sandwich
, Kent
. She was laid down in April 1806 and launched on 31 August 1806.
under Commander Warwick Lake. During the voyage, a young sailor named Robert Jeffery was discovered to have stolen the midshipmen's beer and Lake furiously ordered him to be marooned
on the island of Sombrero
. (Jeffery had been born at Fowey but moved to Polperro
before becoming a merchant seaman and was then pressganged into the navy.) Some months later, Lake's commanding officer Sir Alexander Cochrane
discovered what had happened and immediately ordered Lake to retrieve Jeffery. When Recruit arrived at Sombrero, Jeffery could not be found. Eventually the story got out and a court martial dismissed Lake from the service for his actions. As it turned out, Jeffery had been picked up by an American ship and was eventually discovered in Massachusetts
three years later, working as a blacksmith. He returned to Britain and received compensation.To gather evidence for the court martial, the Admiralty had sent Freya and Recruits sister ship, Frolic
, to ascertain the survival prospects for someone landed at the island without food and water. The two ships reported back that the prospects for survival were poor.
Following repairs, Recruit participated in the invasion of Martinique
in January 1809. Napier observed that Fort Edward
at Fort Royal
Bay appeared abandoned. He took a gig and with four men, landed, scaled the fort's walls, and hoisted a British flag. Sir Alexander Cochrane
immediately landed marines to occupy the fort and turn its mortars, which had not been spiked, against the French. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Martinique" to all survivors of the campaign.
Shortly thereafter, Napier received promotion to Post-captain
and appointment to command of Jason
, but remained with Recruit for a few more months, participating in the defeat of a French reinforcement squadron in April. During the engagement, Napier was instrumental in maintaining contact with the French force, harrying their flagship D'Hautpoult continuously at some great risk to Recruit that only Napier's skillful ship handling mitigated. Recruit was present at the surrender of the D'Hautpoult and Napier was temporarily appointed to command the captured ship of the line, but then transferred to Jason and sailed her back to Britain. However, on his arrival the Admiralty confirmed his rank but not his appointment, and he was put on half-pay. Jasons new captain was the Hon. Captain King, who had been Napier's passenger on Jason. Napier protested to the Admiralty that had he not stayed on Recruit and contributed to the capture of the D'Hautpoult he would have received a command, but to no avail.
In June 1809 command of Recruit transferred to Commander James Murray and then in May 1810 to Commander John Cookesley.
In 1811, Recruit was at Spithead
. She sailed for North America on 9 November 1811. She was at Halifax, Nova Scotia
at the outbreak of the War of 1812
. In 1813, Recruit was trapped in ice off Cape Breton
where over half her complement were taken ill with sicknesses related to a lack of fresh vegetables. When Lieutenant George Pechell (acting commander) took command of Recruit for his first cruise that summer, she had only half her normal crew.
In May, Recruit drove the letter of marque
schooner Inca ashore off Georgia. Inca was armed with six guns and carried a crew of 35 men.
On 10 July Recruit captured the privateer Yorktown, and eight days later she captured the privateer Lavinia. Then on 20 August she captured the American brig King George.
On 4 January 1814 she captured the merchantman Mary Ann. Commander Thomas Sykes assumed command in February, and on 10 August she captured the American merchantman Federalist. Sykes' successor in 1815 was Commander John Lawrence.
at Plymouth
. She was sold to R. Forbes on 7 August 1822 for ₤1,050.
Cruizer class brig-sloop
The Cruizer class was an 18-gun class of brig-sloops of the Royal Navy. Brig-sloops were the same as ship-sloops except for their rigging...
brig-sloop 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 1806 at Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
. She is best known for an act of pique by Cmdr. Warwick Lake
Viscount Lake
Viscount Lake, of Delhi and Laswary and of Aston Clinton in the County of Buckingham, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1807 for the prominent soldier Gerard Lake, 1st Baron Lake. He was Commander-in-Chief of India from 1801 to 1805 and from 1805 to 1807...
, who marooned a seaman, and for an inconclusive but hard fought ship action under Cmdr. Charles John Napier against the French corvette Diligente
French corvette Diligente (1801)
The Diligente was a 20-gun corvette of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. Built at Brest on private plans by Pierre Ozanne, she was particularly fast. The French Navy adopted the design and copied the plans as late as 1848. Originally armed with 6-pounder guns, she was later rearmed with...
. She captured a number of American vessels as prizes during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
before being laid up in 1815 and sold for breaking up in 1822.
Recruit was ordered on 27 January 1806 from the shipwright Andrew Hills, of Sandwich
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She was laid down in April 1806 and launched on 31 August 1806.
The marooning of Seaman Jeffery
Recruit was commissioned under Commander George Ackholm in March 1807, and then in July sailed to the CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
under Commander Warwick Lake. During the voyage, a young sailor named Robert Jeffery was discovered to have stolen the midshipmen's beer and Lake furiously ordered him to be marooned
Marooning
Marooning is the intentional leaving of someone in a remote area, such as an uninhabited island. The word appears in writing in approximately 1709, and is derived from the term maroon, a word for a fugitive slave, which could be a corruption of Spanish cimarrón, meaning a household animal who has...
on the island of Sombrero
Sombrero, Anguilla
Sombrero, also known as Hat Island, is the northernmost island of the Lesser Antilles in position 18° 60'N, 63° 40'W. It lies north west of Anguilla across the Dog and Prickly Pear Passage. The distance to Dog Island, the closest island of Anguilla, is . Sombrero is long north-south, and wide....
. (Jeffery had been born at Fowey but moved to Polperro
Polperro
Polperro is a village and fishing harbour on the south-east Cornwall coast in South West England, UK, within the civil parish of Lansallos. Situated on the River Pol, 4 miles west of the neighbouring town of Looe and west of the major city and naval port of Plymouth, it is well-known for...
before becoming a merchant seaman and was then pressganged into the navy.) Some months later, Lake's commanding officer Sir Alexander Cochrane
Alexander Cochrane
Admiral Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars.-Naval career:...
discovered what had happened and immediately ordered Lake to retrieve Jeffery. When Recruit arrived at Sombrero, Jeffery could not be found. Eventually the story got out and a court martial dismissed Lake from the service for his actions. As it turned out, Jeffery had been picked up by an American ship and was eventually discovered in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
three years later, working as a blacksmith. He returned to Britain and received compensation.To gather evidence for the court martial, the Admiralty had sent Freya and Recruits sister ship, Frolic
HMS Frolic (1806)
HMS Frolic was a 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. She was built by Boole, of Bridport and was launched on 9 February 1806. In 1812 the American sloop captured her after a fierce fight, but later that day the British recaptured Frolic and captured Wasp...
, to ascertain the survival prospects for someone landed at the island without food and water. The two ships reported back that the prospects for survival were poor.
Captain Charles Napier
Command passed to Commander Charles Napier, who led Recruit into action against the French corvette Diligente on 6 September 1808. The action was fierce and resulted in Recruit losing her mainmast and suffering heavy casualties, including Napier, whose leg was broken by a cannon shot. Diligente was only driven off after a lucky shot from Recruit ignited an ammunition store. Recruit lost six killed and 23 wounded, half of them mortally, out of a crew of 106.Following repairs, Recruit participated in the invasion of Martinique
Invasion of Martinique (1809)
The invasion of Martinique of 1809 was a successful British amphibious operation against the French West Indian island of Martinique that took place between 30 January and 24 February 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars...
in January 1809. Napier observed that Fort Edward
Fort Saint Louis (Martinique)
Fort Saint Louis is a fortress on a peninsula at Fort-de-France, Martinique. Today the Fort is both a naval base and an Historic Monument. There are daily tours of the fort, though the portion that is still a naval base is off-limits.-Naval Base:...
at Fort Royal
Fort-de-France
Fort-de-France is the capital of France's Caribbean overseas department of Martinique. It is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean. Exports include sugar, rum, tinned fruit, and cacao.-Geography:...
Bay appeared abandoned. He took a gig and with four men, landed, scaled the fort's walls, and hoisted a British flag. Sir Alexander Cochrane
Alexander Cochrane
Admiral Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars.-Naval career:...
immediately landed marines to occupy the fort and turn its mortars, which had not been spiked, against the French. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Martinique" to all survivors of the campaign.
Shortly thereafter, Napier received promotion to 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:...
and appointment to command of Jason
HMS Jason (1804)
HMS Jason was a 32-gun fifth rate Thames-class frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1804 at Woolwich, named for Jason of Greek Mythology.-Service:...
, but remained with Recruit for a few more months, participating in the defeat of a French reinforcement squadron in April. During the engagement, Napier was instrumental in maintaining contact with the French force, harrying their flagship D'Hautpoult continuously at some great risk to Recruit that only Napier's skillful ship handling mitigated. Recruit was present at the surrender of the D'Hautpoult and Napier was temporarily appointed to command the captured ship of the line, but then transferred to Jason and sailed her back to Britain. However, on his arrival the Admiralty confirmed his rank but not his appointment, and he was put on half-pay. Jasons new captain was the Hon. Captain King, who had been Napier's passenger on Jason. Napier protested to the Admiralty that had he not stayed on Recruit and contributed to the capture of the D'Hautpoult he would have received a command, but to no avail.
In June 1809 command of Recruit transferred to Commander James Murray and then in May 1810 to Commander John Cookesley.
War of 1812
In December 1810 Commander Humphrey Senhouse took command and later sailed Recruit back to Britain.In 1811, Recruit was at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
. She sailed for North America on 9 November 1811. She was at Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
at the outbreak of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. In 1813, Recruit was trapped in ice off Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
where over half her complement were taken ill with sicknesses related to a lack of fresh vegetables. When Lieutenant George Pechell (acting commander) took command of Recruit for his first cruise that summer, she had only half her normal crew.
In May, Recruit drove the letter of marque
Letter of marque
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...
schooner Inca ashore off Georgia. Inca was armed with six guns and carried a crew of 35 men.
On 10 July Recruit captured the privateer Yorktown, and eight days later she captured the privateer Lavinia. Then on 20 August she captured the American brig King George.
On 4 January 1814 she captured the merchantman Mary Ann. Commander Thomas Sykes assumed command in February, and on 10 August she captured the American merchantman Federalist. Sykes' successor in 1815 was Commander John Lawrence.
Fate
On 13 June 1815, Recruit was paid off into ordinaryReserve fleet
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....
at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. She was sold to R. Forbes on 7 August 1822 for ₤1,050.