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USS Hornet (1805, brig)
Encyclopedia
The third USS Hornet was a brig
-rigged sloop-of-war
in the United States Navy
. Later, however, she was re-rigged as a ship
.
Hornet was launched on 28 July 1805 in Baltimore and commissioned on 18 October. She fought in the War of 1812
under command of James Lawrence
, who later (while commanding ) gave the United States Navy
their famous motto "Don't give up the ship."
.
She captured the privateer
Dolphin on 9 July 1812, although the British recaptured the ship shortly afterwards. Hornet assisted in the blockade of in the harbor at Salvador, Brazil, and on 24 February 1813 she sank after a brief battle
off Guyana.
Following this she returned to New London
.
On 14 November 1814, under new command, Hornet sailed on a second raiding voyage to the South Atlantic.
On 23 March 1815, she captured in a short battle off Tristan da Cunha
. This was one of several naval engagements that took place after the war had ended. On 27 April, she engaged , having mistakenly identified her as a merchant vessel. Hornet managed to escape by throwing overboard boats, guns and other equipment so to enable higher speed.
, Mexico
on 29 September 1829 with the loss of all on board.
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
-rigged 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...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Later, however, she was re-rigged as a ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
.
Hornet was launched on 28 July 1805 in Baltimore and commissioned on 18 October. She fought in 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...
under command of James Lawrence
James Lawrence
James Lawrence was an American naval officer. During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon...
, who later (while commanding ) gave the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
their famous motto "Don't give up the ship."
War of 1812
At the outbreak of war Hornet sailed under Lawrence's command on a raiding voyage to South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
She captured the privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
Dolphin on 9 July 1812, although the British recaptured the ship shortly afterwards. Hornet assisted in the blockade of in the harbor at Salvador, Brazil, and on 24 February 1813 she sank after a brief battle
Sinking of HMS Peacock
The sinking of HMS Peacock was a naval action fought off the mouth of the Demerara River, Guyana on 24 February, 1813, between the sloop of war USS Hornet and the Cruizer class brig sloop Peacock...
off Guyana.
Following this she returned to New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
.
On 14 November 1814, under new command, Hornet sailed on a second raiding voyage to the South Atlantic.
On 23 March 1815, she captured in a short battle off Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean and the main island of that group. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America...
. This was one of several naval engagements that took place after the war had ended. On 27 April, she engaged , having mistakenly identified her as a merchant vessel. Hornet managed to escape by throwing overboard boats, guns and other equipment so to enable higher speed.
Loss
Following the war, she took part in anti-piracy patrols in the Caribbean. Hornet sank in a storm off TampicoTampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on 29 September 1829 with the loss of all on board.