HMS Talbot (1807)
Encyclopedia
HMS Talbot was a British Royal Navy
18-gun sloop-of-war
built by James Heath & Sons, of East Teignmouth
and launched in 1807. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the reversal of the liberation of Iceland
that the colorful, erratic, former Royal Navy
seaman and privateer Jørgen Jørgensen
had carried out. Talbot was sold in 1815 for mercantile service.
. In 1811 the Admiralty re-rated Talbot and Coquette as 20-gun post ships
.
In 1808 Jones and Talbot took three prizes: Lykens Proven (14th April), Union (17 May), and Bon Jesus e Almar (9 May).
In 1809 Talbot was in the North Sea where she captured several prizes: Twee Gebroederss (26 April), Bagatellen (29 April), Neskelaen (30 April), Emanuel (2 May), Providentia (10 May), Gestina and Nautilus (18 May), and Sara Catharina (19 May). The most notable, but still minor, capture occurred on 13 June when Talbot captured the Danish privateer Loven, off the Naze
of Norway. Loven had two long guns, which she had dismounted during the chase, and a crew of 11. She had left Norway that morning and had made no captures.
More interestingly, Talbot entered the harbour at Reykjavík
on 14 August. After some investigation Jones took Jørgen Jørgensen into custody. Jørgensen had arrested the Danish governor and proclaimed himself "His Excellency, the Protector of Iceland, Commander in Chief by Land and Sea". With Talbots arrival, the Danish government was restored and Jørgensen was taken to England, where he ended up in prison for more than a year, but for breaking parole after his earlier capture by , not for his adventures in Iceland
.
In 1811, Captain Spelman Swaine commanded Talbot on the Irish station. On 30 November she was in company with the frigate as they sailed from Lough Swilly
, Donegal
, where they were based. Four days later a gale caught them in the Lough. Saldanha foundered with the loss of her entire crew; Talbot got out to sea and survived.
Later Talbot protected merchants sailing to and from Newfoundland and the West Indies. On 5 August 1812, Talbot captured the American ship Rhoda and Betsey.
Swaine transferred to on 28 April 1814 after Lieutenant Thomas Walbeoff Cecil of killed Captain Hassard Stackpole, of Statira, in a duel. (Cecil was promoted into but died of yellow fever in 1814.) Swaine's successor, in April 1814, was Captain Henry Haynes.
on Christmas Eve 1814, so she was not a prize. Furthermore, the John was lost to "the perils of the sea" while in custody, leading to a suit by her owners against Talbots captain. That suit was dismissed, but the United States claimed on behalf of the owners against the British government, and the court judged that the government did owe compensation. The settlement took place after 1853.
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...
18-gun sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
built by James Heath & Sons, of East 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 1807. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the reversal of the liberation of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
that the colorful, erratic, former 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...
seaman and privateer Jørgen Jørgensen
Jørgen Jørgensen
Jørgen Jørgensen was a Danish adventurer during the Age of Revolution. During the Action of 2 March 1808 his ship was captured by the British. In 1809 he sailed to Iceland, declared the country independent from Denmark and pronounced himself its ruler...
had carried out. Talbot was sold in 1815 for mercantile service.
Talbot Class
Talbot was the name ship for a class of two sloops; her sister ship was Coquette. Both were enlarged versions of the Cormorant-class ship-sloopCormorant class ship-sloop
The Cormorant class were built as a 16-gun class of ship-sloops for the Royal Navy, although an extra 2 guns were added soon after completion.-Design:...
. In 1811 the Admiralty re-rated Talbot and Coquette as 20-gun post ships
Post ship
Post ship was a designation used in the Royal Navy during the Age of Sail to describe a ship of the sixth-rate that was smaller than a frigate , but by virtue of being a rated ship , had to have as its captain a post captain rather than a lieutenant or commander...
.
Service
The Admiralty commissioned Talbot in September 1807 under Commander the Honourable Alexander Jones, who about a year later sailed her to Portugal.In 1808 Jones and Talbot took three prizes: Lykens Proven (14th April), Union (17 May), and Bon Jesus e Almar (9 May).
In 1809 Talbot was in the North Sea where she captured several prizes: Twee Gebroederss (26 April), Bagatellen (29 April), Neskelaen (30 April), Emanuel (2 May), Providentia (10 May), Gestina and Nautilus (18 May), and Sara Catharina (19 May). The most notable, but still minor, capture occurred on 13 June when Talbot captured the Danish privateer Loven, off the Naze
Naze
The Naze is a headland on the east coast of England. It is on the coast of Essex just north of Blackwater and projects into the North Sea. This area is south of the double estuary of the River Stour and River Orwell at Harwich and just north of the town of Walton-on-the-Naze.The Naze is a peninsula...
of Norway. Loven had two long guns, which she had dismounted during the chase, and a crew of 11. She had left Norway that morning and had made no captures.
More interestingly, Talbot entered the harbour at Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
on 14 August. After some investigation Jones took Jørgen Jørgensen into custody. Jørgensen had arrested the Danish governor and proclaimed himself "His Excellency, the Protector of Iceland, Commander in Chief by Land and Sea". With Talbots arrival, the Danish government was restored and Jørgensen was taken to England, where he ended up in prison for more than a year, but for breaking parole after his earlier capture by , not for his adventures in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
In 1811, Captain Spelman Swaine commanded Talbot on the Irish station. On 30 November she was in company with the frigate as they sailed from Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
, Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, where they were based. Four days later a gale caught them in the Lough. Saldanha foundered with the loss of her entire crew; Talbot got out to sea and survived.
Later Talbot protected merchants sailing to and from Newfoundland and the West Indies. On 5 August 1812, Talbot captured the American ship Rhoda and Betsey.
Swaine transferred to on 28 April 1814 after Lieutenant Thomas Walbeoff Cecil of killed Captain Hassard Stackpole, of Statira, in a duel. (Cecil was promoted into but died of yellow fever in 1814.) Swaine's successor, in April 1814, was Captain Henry Haynes.
Fate
In September 1814 Captain William Dowers took command of Talbot. Captain Archibald Tisdall succeeded him in July 1815. She was paid off in August or September 1815 before the Admiralty sold her on 23 November for ₤1,610 for mercantile use. Talbot entered mercantile service as the George.Post-script
Early in 1815 Talbot captured the John, an American merchant vessel. However, it turned out that the US and Great Britain had signed a peace treatyTreaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent , signed on 24 December 1814, in Ghent , was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
on Christmas Eve 1814, so she was not a prize. Furthermore, the John was lost to "the perils of the sea" while in custody, leading to a suit by her owners against Talbots captain. That suit was dismissed, but the United States claimed on behalf of the owners against the British government, and the court judged that the government did owe compensation. The settlement took place after 1853.
External links
- http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=2178 Michael Phillips' Ships of the Old Navy - Talbot.