HMS Spartan (1806)
Encyclopedia
HMS Spartan was a Royal Navy
38-gun fifth-rate
frigate
, launched at Rochester in 1806.
, who took Spartan to the Adriatic Sea
for service in the Adriatic campaign. In May 1807, Spartan engaged Annibal, two frigates (Pomone
and Incorruptible
), and the corvette Victorieuse off Cabrera in the Mediterranean.
Spartan was very active in the region, attacking numerous French coastal convoys, towns and small warships and in 1809 was employed in attacks on the Ionian Islands
, landing troops on Zante and Cerigo in successful amphibious operations. Spartan was in action with and at Pesaro
on 23 April, and at Cesenatico
on 2 May.
In 1810, Spartan was operating off Naples
and there fought and inconclusive engagement against a much larger Neapolitan squadron on 3 May, for which Brenton was highly rewarded.
took command and operated off the American Eastern Seaboard during the War of 1812
, attacking shipping off Cape Sable
but otherwise having little success against American merchant ships.
In July 1812, Spartan and captured two American vessels:
The boats of Spartan and captured the US Revenue Cutter Commodore Barry
on 3 August in the Little River, Bay of Fundy
, together with three privateer schooners, Madison, Olive, and Spence (or Spruce). Commodore Barry was armed with six guns and each of the schooners was armed with two guns. Before the British captured the vessels their crews escaped. They had erected batteries on shore, using the guns from their vessels. They resisted, inflicting some casualties, but then evaded capture. Even so, some men were captured on Commodore Barry and remained prisoners of war until paroled in June 1813. Prize money to the crew of the Spartan for the Commodore Barry was paid in July 1820.
On 17 October 1812 and Spartan, part of the squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren
, were in company when Maidstone captured the American privateer brig Rapid on the Saint George's Bank
. Rapid was armed with 14 cannon - twelve carronades of various sizes and two long 6-pounder guns - but her crew had thrown eight of her cannons overboard to lighten her during the nine-hour chase. She had a crew of 84 men and was three days out of Portland. Her backers and provisioned her for a three month's cruise first off the Azores, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands, and then off Cayenne and Bermuda. The British took Rapid into service as , which they later renamed Ferret.
In 1814, Spartan returned to Portsmouth
, where command passed to Phipps Hornby
, who briefly served with her in the Mediterranean. While commander of Spartan, Hornby participated in the capture of Elba
from the French, for which he was invested with the Austrian order of St Joseph of Würzburg.
following the depredations of Algerian pirates under the previous Dey, who had died of the plague.
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...
38-gun fifth-rate
Fifth-rate
In Britain's Royal Navy during the classic age of fighting sail, a fifth rate was the penultimate class of warships in a hierarchal system of six "ratings" based on size and firepower.-Rating:...
frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
, launched at Rochester in 1806.
Napoleonic Wars
Spartans first captain was George Airie, but he was soon replaced by Captain Jahleel BrentonJahleel Brenton
Sir Jahleel Brenton, 1st baronet, KCB was a British admiral born in Newport, Rhode Island, British North America.-Early life:...
, who took Spartan to the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
for service in the Adriatic campaign. In May 1807, Spartan engaged Annibal, two frigates (Pomone
French frigate Pomone (1805)
The Pomone was a 40-gun Hortense-class frigate of the French Navy, built at Genoa for the puppet government of the Ligurian Republic, which was annexed as part of France in June 1805, a month after the Pomone was completed...
and Incorruptible
French frigate Incorruptible (1795)
The Incorruptible was a Romaine class frigate of the French Navy.On 15 July 1796, under captain Bescond, she fought against the 56-gun HMS Glatton.In 1800, she was involved in the battle of Dunkirk....
), and the corvette Victorieuse off Cabrera in the Mediterranean.
Spartan was very active in the region, attacking numerous French coastal convoys, towns and small warships and in 1809 was employed in attacks on the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
, landing troops on Zante and Cerigo in successful amphibious operations. Spartan was in action with and at Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
on 23 April, and at Cesenatico
Cesenatico
Cesenatico is a port town with about 20,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is located in the province of Forlì-Cesena in the region of Emilia-Romagna, about 30 km south of Ravenna...
on 2 May.
In 1810, Spartan was operating off Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and there fought and inconclusive engagement against a much larger Neapolitan squadron on 3 May, for which Brenton was highly rewarded.
War of 1812
In 1811, Brenton's brother Edward Pelham BrentonEdward Pelham Brenton
Captain Edward Pelham Brenton was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars who military career was relatively quiet, apart from involvement in the capture of Martinique in 1809...
took command and operated off the American Eastern Seaboard 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...
, attacking shipping off Cape Sable
Cape Sable
Cape Sable, Florida is the southernmost point of the US mainland and mainland Florida. It is located in southwestern Florida, in Monroe County, and is part of the Everglades National Park. The cape is a peninsula issuing from the southeastern part of the Florida mainland, running west and curving...
but otherwise having little success against American merchant ships.
In July 1812, Spartan and captured two American vessels:
- 17 July: brig George, of 211 tons, sailing from Messina to Salem with a cargo of wine, brandy, opium, oil, etc.; and
- 18 July: schooner Hiram, of 132 tons, sailing from Lisbon to Salem with a cargo of fruit and dollars.
The boats of Spartan and captured the US Revenue Cutter Commodore Barry
USRC Commodore Barry (1812)
USRC Commodore Barry was a vessel that the US Revenue Cutter Service bought in 1812, before the outbreak of the War of 1812. The British captured her in August of the same year. She served briefly in November as a privateer for Saint John, New Brunswick under the name Brunswicker before being laid...
on 3 August in the Little River, Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
, together with three privateer schooners, Madison, Olive, and Spence (or Spruce). Commodore Barry was armed with six guns and each of the schooners was armed with two guns. Before the British captured the vessels their crews escaped. They had erected batteries on shore, using the guns from their vessels. They resisted, inflicting some casualties, but then evaded capture. Even so, some men were captured on Commodore Barry and remained prisoners of war until paroled in June 1813. Prize money to the crew of the Spartan for the Commodore Barry was paid in July 1820.
On 17 October 1812 and Spartan, part of the squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren
John Borlase Warren
Sir John Borlase Warren, 1st Baronet , was an English admiral, politician and diplomat. Born in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, he was the son and heir of John Borlase Warren of Stapleford and Little Marlow...
, were in company when Maidstone captured the American privateer brig Rapid on the Saint George's Bank
Georges Bank
Georges Bank is a large elevated area of the sea floor which separates the Gulf of Maine from the Atlantic Ocean and is situated between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia ....
. Rapid was armed with 14 cannon - twelve carronades of various sizes and two long 6-pounder guns - but her crew had thrown eight of her cannons overboard to lighten her during the nine-hour chase. She had a crew of 84 men and was three days out of Portland. Her backers and provisioned her for a three month's cruise first off the Azores, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands, and then off Cayenne and Bermuda. The British took Rapid into service as , which they later renamed Ferret.
In 1814, Spartan returned to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, where command passed to Phipps Hornby
Phipps Hornby
Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, GCB was a prominent and experienced British Royal Navy officer of the nineteenth century. Hornby served on frigates throughout most of his wartime experience, which included witnessing the Nore Mutiny first hand aged 12 in 1797...
, who briefly served with her in the Mediterranean. While commander of Spartan, Hornby participated in the capture of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
from the French, for which he was invested with the Austrian order of St Joseph of Würzburg.
Post-war
With the end of the war in 1815, Spartan remained in the Mediterranean under Captain William Furlong Wise, who in 1818 was able to negotiate compensation of $35,000 from the current Dey of AlgiersAlgiers
' 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...
following the depredations of Algerian pirates under the previous Dey, who had died of the plague.