HMS Rook (1806)
Encyclopedia
HMS Rook was a Royal Navy
Cuckoo-class
schooner
, that Thomas Sutton built at Ringmore (Teignmouth
) and launched in 1806. In 1808 two French privateers captured and burnt her.
on 7 September. Rook also shared, with many other ships in the British fleet at Copenhagen in August–September 1807, in the prize money for the capture of Odifiord and Benedicta (4 and 12 September).
In 1808 Lieutenant James Lawrence took command. On 28 June, under orders from Admiral Young, she sailed from Plymouth to the West Indies. After refitting and taking on specie, on 13 August she left Port-Royal
(Jamaica
) for Britain with despatches. A French schooner shadowed her for two days, but Rook chased her off.
On 18 August Rook, on her way to England with despatches, had the misfortune to meet with two French privateers off Cape St. Nicholas (San Domingo). The larger enemy schooner carried 12 guns and the smaller carried 10 guns. A shot by Lawrence killed the captain of the largest privateer. After an hour-and-a-half's hard fighting the enemy succeeded in taking Rook by boarding. In all, she had three crew members killed (including Lawrence, killed by a musket shot), and 11 wounded (including the Master's Mate - the second in command). The French stripped the survivors naked, including the wounded, and put them into a boat. Before doing so, they kicked Lawrence's body, stabbed to death a wounded sergeant of the Royal Artillery, and threw some wounded overboard. Fortunately, the four unwounded men were able to bring the boat to land where they encountered hospitable natives.
"contents unknown" and as there was no other evidence beyond some notations in the margin of the bill, the judge dismissed the suit.
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...
Cuckoo-class
Cuckoo class schooner
The Cuckoo class was a class of twelve 4-gun schooners of the Royal Navy, built by contract in English shipyards during the Napoleonic War. They followed the design of the Bermuda-designed and built Ballahoo-class schooners, and more particularly, that of Haddock. The Admiralty ordered all twelve...
schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, that Thomas Sutton built at Ringmore (Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
) and launched in 1806. In 1808 two French privateers captured and burnt her.
Service
She was commissioned by Lieutenant Joseph Griffiths for the North Sea. With her he was present at the surrender of the Danish Fleet after the Battle of Copenhagen (1807)Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
on 7 September. Rook also shared, with many other ships in the British fleet at Copenhagen in August–September 1807, in the prize money for the capture of Odifiord and Benedicta (4 and 12 September).
In 1808 Lieutenant James Lawrence took command. On 28 June, under orders from Admiral Young, she sailed from Plymouth to the West Indies. After refitting and taking on specie, on 13 August she left Port-Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
(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...
) for Britain with despatches. A French schooner shadowed her for two days, but Rook chased her off.
On 18 August Rook, on her way to England with despatches, had the misfortune to meet with two French privateers off Cape St. Nicholas (San Domingo). The larger enemy schooner carried 12 guns and the smaller carried 10 guns. A shot by Lawrence killed the captain of the largest privateer. After an hour-and-a-half's hard fighting the enemy succeeded in taking Rook by boarding. In all, she had three crew members killed (including Lawrence, killed by a musket shot), and 11 wounded (including the Master's Mate - the second in command). The French stripped the survivors naked, including the wounded, and put them into a boat. Before doing so, they kicked Lawrence's body, stabbed to death a wounded sergeant of the Royal Artillery, and threw some wounded overboard. Fortunately, the four unwounded men were able to bring the boat to land where they encountered hospitable natives.
Fate
Rook herself was so damaged that the French could not get her into port. Instead, they set fire to her.Postscript
In 1810 James Auchie & Co., London, sued their insurers for six cases of specie, each containing $2000, carried in Rook and consigned to the company. However, as Lawrence had signed the Bill of LadingBill of lading
A bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier to a shipper, acknowledging that specified goods have been received on board as cargo for conveyance to a named place for delivery to the consignee who is usually identified...
"contents unknown" and as there was no other evidence beyond some notations in the margin of the bill, the judge dismissed the suit.