Ardent, 1796
Type: troop ship (1803) ; late 3rd rate ; Armament 64
Launched : 1796 ; Disposal date or year : 1824
Notes:

9/10 Jun 1797 escaped the mutiny at the Nore, being fired on by the Monmouth - see p. 74 www.naval-review.org/issues/1929-1.pdf.

3 Oct 1797 arrived Yarmouth from off the Texel to victual and store etc.

9 Oct 1797 departed from Yarmouth for the Texel. 11 Oct 1797 engaged the Dutch fleet in what was to be known as the Battle of Camperdown (Admiral Duncan).

21 Feb 1798 prize money resulting from the sale of Dutch ships captured on the 11 Oct 1797 due for payment.

13 Aug-Oct 1799 employed on expedition to Holland.

15 Sep 1799 Sheerness, 5 Dutch line of battle ships, with 3 Dutch frigates and a sloop, escorted by the Glatton, Veteran, Monmouth, Ardent and Belliqueux, and two Russian ships arrived last night at the Nore, with the Dutch Republican flags flying under the English.

Circa Feb 1800 Lieutenant George Morris, late of the Ardent, is appointed to the command of the Queenborough hired armed cutter.

Circa Feb 1800 W. Hillier, Esq., Purser of the Ardent, succeeds P. Wellsford in the Pompee.

9 Aug 1800 a squadron under Vice-Admiral Dickson consisting of the Monarch, Glatton, Polyphemus, Ardent, Veteran, Romney, Isis, Waakzamheid, and Martin ; Volcano, Hecla, Sulphur, and Zebra bombs ; Boxer, Furious, Griper, Swinger, and Haughty gun-vessels, departed North Yarmouth Roads for Copenhagen to be present during Lord Whitworth's negotiations with the Danish authorities! 15 Aug arrived in the Skaw and then went through a number of manoeuvres etc. ; and then departed for England. For more details see p. 240 of vol 4 of the Naval Chronicles.

14 Sep 1800 the squadron arrived back at Yarmouth.

8 Dec 1800 Plymouth, a Court-Martial was held on board the Princess of Orange, in Yarmouth Roads, for the trial of Captain Hopper, of the Marines, serving on board the Ardent, on a charge brought against him by Captain Bertie, of that ship, for contemptuous language. The Court proceeded to inquire into a charge exhibited by the Right Hon. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, against Captain Thomas Hopper of the Marines, belonging to the Ardent, for contemptuous language contained in a letter dated the 26 Nov 1800 addressed to Thomas Bertie, Esq. Captain of the Ardent, to try him for the same, and the Court having heard the evidence, and the prisoner's defence, and maturely and seriously considered the whole, are of opinion that the contemporaneous language alluded to in the aforesaid letter, was not meant for Captain Bertie, but for Lieutenant Marrie, of the Marines, as it appeared by the evidence produced. The Court therefore acquit Captain Hopper of any intent of conveying any disrespectful or contemptuous language to Captain Bertie, his Captain, and he is hereby acquitted accordingly.

2 Feb 1801 remains in the Roads at N. Yarmouth.

10 Mar 1801 the North Sea Fleet has come together at N. Yarmouth, and consists of the London, and St George, 98 guns, Adm. Sir Hyde Parker having transferred his flag from the Ardent to the St George ; Monarch, Bellona, Saturn, Ramilies, Ganges, Warrior, Russell and Defence, 74 ; Veteran, Ardent, Polyphemus, Raisonable, Agamemnon, 64 ; Glatton, 54 ; Isis, 50 ; Desiree, Blanche, and Amazon frigates ; Pylades, Hyaena, Dart, and Arrow,, sloops ; Harpy ; Biter, Blazer, Bruiser, Tigress, Pelter, Teazer, Hasty, Force, Sparkler Brigs ; Terror, Volcano, Explosion, Hecla, Zebra, Albion, Sulphur, and Discovery bombs ; Eling, schooner ; cutters Fox and Hazard ; and luggers Rover and Lark.

Circa 12 Mar 1801 fleet under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker and Lord Nelson, consisting of 17 ships of the line, 3 frigates, 10 gun-brigs, nearly as many bomb-ketches, with smaller vessels usually attendant on a fleet, making in the whole nearly 50 sail, got under weigh from Yarmouth Roads at the break of day, and by eight o'clock had cleared the Sands ; they directed their course to the northward, wafted by a fine breeze at S.W. as departed from Yarmouth roads for Copenhagen (Naval Chronicle). 30 Mar the vessels initially detailed to take part in the forthcoming Battle of Copenhagen. 1 Apr the vessels detailed sail for Copenhagen ; the British ships held in reserve ; the Danish positions : 2 Apr the battle commences : the truce : the casualties : the wash-up :
For details of the actual damage received by the ship at Copenhagen see the Naval Chronicle 1801 Vol 6 - Jul - Dec, page 202, available on-line.

12 Apr 1801 the fleet departed from Copenhagen into the Baltic.

8 May 1801 to cruise off Carlscrona.

5 Jul 1801 passed by N. Yarmouth yesterday evening with the Glatton, from the Baltic to the Nore.

7 Jul 1801 arrived Sheerness, the Glatton, Capt Burchill, and Ardent, Capt McKinley, from the Baltic fleet, last from Yarmouth.

25 July 1801 at Sheerness it is reported that the Ardent, Glatton and Adventure are to be fitted as floating batteries without delay.

5 Sep 1801 Capt Nowell, late of the Isis, has been appointed to the Ardent, at the Nore.

6 Nov 1801 arrived Sheerness from Margate Roads.

12 Nov 1801 remains Sheerness, with the Zealand, guard-ship.

18 Nov 1801 a Court Martial was held onboard his Majesty's ship Ardent, lying at the Nore, on Captain Watson, of the Daphne frigate, for striking and ill using the pilot of the said ship. After mature deliberation, the Court ordered that Captain Watson should be reprimanded for his conduct.

18 Nov 1801 a Court Martial was held onboard his Majesty's ship Ardent, lying at the Nore, on the carpenter of the Bittern, for drunkenness, and neglect of duty ; when the charges being proved, he was broke, and rendered incapable of ever serving his Majesty again.

19 Nov 1801 went into the Sound and departed for Falmouth, Cork, and Jamaica, the Ardent. She is the first ship cleared out since the peace from this port for a foreign station.

24 Nov 1801 the Conflict arrived Sheerness with drafts of seamen for the Ardent, and departs in the morning with supernumeraries from the Zealand for Deptford.

30 Nov 1801 remains with the Zealand and some 20 other vessels at the Nore.

14 Feb 1802 remain at the Nore, with the Zealand.

31 Mar 1802 many of the vessels at Sheerness are to be sent to Chatham to be paid off.

19 Apr 1802 was one of a number of vessels paid off at Chatham since 11 Apr.

19 Jul 1802 head money due to those present at the Engagement at Copenhagen, on the 2d April 1801, due for payment.

17 Nov-30 Dec 1802 prize money resulting from the expedition to Holland due for payment.

27 Dec 1802 taken out of Dock at Chatham, having completed her repairs.

24 Mar 1803 yesterday, at about 11 o'clock, got under weigh at Chatham, and anchored at Long Reach with a view to embarking her guns from the gun wharf. The Lords of the Admiralty have directed that men of war fitted out at Chatham shall take in their powder and guns &c., in Long Reach, about half way to Sheerness, instead of at Blackstakes, where they have hitherto have been brought up for that purpose.

29 Mar 1803 is in Long Reach, embarking her guns and powder &c., on her passage down to Sheerness.

4 Apr 1803 departed Sheerness for the Nore, the Ardent, Capt Winthrop.

13 Apr 1803 the Ardent, arrived in Cawsand Bay from Sheerness.

18 Apr 1803 departed Cawsand Bay for Torbay.

29 Apr 1803 as a result of the expected forthcoming collapse of the Treaty of Amiens, aka, Peace of Amiens, the following squadron was arriving from Cawsand Bay and slowly forming up off Brixham Quay, at Torbay, the Culloden, Neptune, Ardent, Albion, Courageux, Venerable, and Thunderer.

16 May 1803 Adm Cornwallis sailed on Monday from Torbay, with a squadron consisting of the following ships : Dreadnought, 98, Hon Adm Cornwallis, First Capt Murray, Second Capt Brace ; Neptune, 98, Capt Drury ; Albion, 74, Capt Ferrier ; Minotaur, 74, Capt Louis ; Ardent, 64, Capt Winthorp ; Culloden, 74, R.-Adm Campbell, Capt Lane ; Venerable, 74, Capt Searle ; Sceptre, 74, Capt Dickson ; Thunderer, 74, Capt Bedford ; and Russel, 74, Capt Williams. The Tonant, Malta, Spartiate, Plantagenet, Mars and Conqueror, lying in Cawsand Bay are nearly ready for sea, and want but few men to complete their complement.

22 Aug 1803 the Ardent, 64, arrived Cawsand Bay from the Channel Fleet, having spent 14 weeks off the Black Rocks.

30 Aug 1803 having embarked live cattle and fresh vegetables the Ardent, Capt Winthrop, departed Plymouth for the squadron off Brest and off the Black Rocks, after also having new set up her rigging, and payed yards, and top-masts in Cawsand Bay.

6 Oct 1803 arrived Plymouth from a cruise.

8 Oct 1803 letters received from the Conqueror, Capt T Louis, date 29 Sep., off the Black Rock, off Brest, state that the inshore squadron, including the Mars, Capt Sutton ; the Spartiate, Capt Manby ; Defiance, Capt P C Durham ; and the Ardent, Capt Winthrop, are all well and healthy.

19 Oct 1803 departed Cawsand Bay with live oxen and vegetables, to join the Channel Squadron.

27 Oct 1803 arrived Plymouth the Ardent, 64, Capt Winthrop, from the Channel fleet for water and beer for the squadron.

Circa 14 Nov 1803 the Ardent is detached by Adm Cornwallis, to reinforce the squadron off Bantry Bay, which will then have 8 sail of the line and numerous frigates.

28 Mar 1804 arrived Plymouth from off the Ferrol, to refit.

Circa 12 May 1804 R.-Adm Louis has hoisted his flag on board the Ardent, at Deal, as Commander of the Boulogne Squadron.

1-3 Oct 1804 fire ships expended and the trial of a new form of fire boat known as a "catamaran," on the French flotillas anchored off Boulogne. The officers in charge of the fire or explosion vessels were as follows : Capts MacLeod, of the Sulphur ; Jackson, of the Autumn ; Edwards of the Fury ; Collard of the Railleur ; and Searle of the Helder defence ship. Lieuts Stewart of the Monarch ; Lowry of the Leopard ; Payne of the Immortalite ; Templer of the Sulphur ; Midshipman Bartholomew of the Inflexible ; Capts Winthrop of the Ardent ; and Owen of the Immortalite, superintended the operations from the Southward ; and Hon Capt Blackwood, of the Euryalus, from the Northward. Keith.

May 1805 Nore

5 Jan - Sep 1807 operations in the Rio de la Plata.

Yarmouth Dec 31 1810 departed for Portsmouth.

Deal Jan 22 1811 arrived from Leith Roads.

Deal Jan 24 1811 departed for Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Jan 25 1811 Came in with a convoy from the Downs.

Portsmouth Mar 14 1811 arrived from Leith.

Deal Apr 15 1811 arrived from the westward.

Wingo Sound, Gottenburgh Oct 15 1811 Remained.

Harwich Dec 15 1811 Remains at Wingo Sound.

Portsmouth Jul 13 1812 arrived from the Downs.

1812 Troopship

Plymouth Jul 29 1812 arrived from the eastward, bound to Halifax with troops on board.

Portsmouth Oct 23 1812 arrived from Bermuda.

Portsmouth May 27 1813 Sails with the convoy to Halifax.

Portsmouth Jun 2 1813 departed with supplies of naval stores for Bermuda.

1813 Prison Ship, Bermuda.