HMS Cambrian

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Cambrian, 1797
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 40 x 18-pounder
Launched : at Portsmouth 1797 ; Disposal date or year : 31 Jan 1828
Disposal Details : Wrecked off Grabusa, off Cape Busa (Vouxa), Greece, after being struck by the Isis, and went aground and was abandoned. Capt Gawen Wm. Hamilton CB.
Notes:

4 Jan 1798 captured the French privateer Vengeur in the Channel.

27 Mar 1798 captured the French privateer C�sar in the Channel.

30 Mar 1798 captured the French privateer Pont de Lodi in the Channel.

19 Oct 1798 captured the French privateer Revanche in the Channel.

8 Dec 1798, this morning, in the Channel, captured the French brig privateer Cantabre, 14 guns and sixty men. 3 days from Bayonne, quite new, on her first cruize, and a very fine vessel.

1 Jan 1799 Capt. Hon. A. K. Legge. Cruising.

9 Jan 1799 Plymouth, arrived from a cruise.

Circa 20 Feb 1799 during a thunder storm was struck by a fire ball on the forecastle, which killed two men and wounded seventeen, two of which were blinded, and one of them is now raving mad.

25 Sep 1799 Plymouth, arrived from a cruise.

19 Oct 1799 Cambrian and Stag captured the French privateer Heureux off Bourdeaux River.

30 Oct 1799 Plymouth, came in the American ship Sally, Brick, from Virginia, taken by the French privateer Vengeance, 20 guns and 160 men, and retaken by the Cambrian, who then left in chase of the Vengeance and well up with her, when the Sarah left them.

17 Nov 1799 Plymouth, arrived from a cruise, last from Falmouth.

26 Dec 1799 Plymouth, departed on a cruise.

26 Feb 1800 Plymouth, arrived from the coast of France with all the arms and money destined for the Chouans.

20 Mar 1800 Plymouth, waiting in the Sound for Admiralty orders.

4 Apr 1800 Plymouth, departed with sealed orders.

3 May 1800 Plymouth, arrived the L�Emilie schooner letter of marque, with wine and oil, prize to the Fisgard, 48, and the Cambrian, 44.

5 May 1800 when in company with the Fisgard, captured the French brig corvette Le Dragon, 10 guns, pierced for 14, and 72 men, commanded by Mons. Lachurie, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, 2 days from Rochefort, bound to Guadaloupe with dispatches.

12 May 1800 Plymouth, came in La Dragon, 14 guns, and 120 men, National corvette, prize to the Fisgard, 48 guns, and Cambrian, 44.

17 Jun 1800 Plymouth, arrived from the coast of Spain, having been relieved by the Indefatigable, 44.

10 Jul 1800 Plymouth, departed with the Magnificent, 74, and Havick, 18, on a cruise.

19 Jul 1800 Portsmouth, arrived from the Channel fleet.

21 Jul 1800 Portsmouth, the Cambrian, Hon Captain Lcgge, and, San Fiorenzo, Sir Harry Neale, are appointed to attend their Majesties at Weymouth.

29 Jul 1800 Portsmouth, departed the Cambrian, 44, San Fiorenzo, 44, Syren, 32, and two cutters, to attend his Majesty at Weymouth.

9 Oct 1800 Portsmouth, arrived with the San Fiorenzo, 40 : and Syren, 36, from Weymouth, where they have been attending their Majesties.

26 Oct 1800 Portsmouth, departed on a cruise with the San Fiorenzo.

29 Oct 1800 Portsmouth departed with the San Fiorenzo, 40 ; Active, 38 ; and Harpy, 32, on a cruise.

22 Dec 1800 arrived Plymouth from a ten weeks cruise in company with the St Fiorenzo.

29 Dec 1800 departed Plymouth Sound with the St. Fiorenzo, for Portsmouth.

7 Jan 1801 came into Portsmouth Harbour to refit.

31 Mar 1801 departed Spithead in company with the Superb and the Venerable with the East India convoy.

2 Apr 1801 at Plymouth, passed down the outward bound East India fleet, under convoy of the with the Superb, Venerable, and Cambrian, the two former are to see them off Madeira, and the Cambrian goes on to the Cape.

6 Apr 1801 captured the French privateer Audacieux.

11 Apr 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound the Nancy, of 14 guns, Captain Davidson, from Sierra Leone to London, with oil, ivory, and dye-wood, and a small quantity of gold dust ; she departed the 25th February, from Sierra Leone, was captured the 2d instant, by the French privateer La Braave, of 36 guns, and 260 men, and recaptured the 6th instant, by the Cambrian, of 44 guns, Honourable Captain A.K. Legge. La Braave took out for security, 25O ounces of gold from the Nancy, the officers of La Braave behaved very well to Captain Davidson, and his ships company, the Cambrian was left in chace of La Braave.

21 Apr 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound this morning a French lugger privateer, 14 guns, 50 men, captured in the Channel by the Cambrian on the 6th.

22 Apr 1801 further to the above, arrived Plymouth Sound, yesterday, L'Audacieux French lugger, of 14 guns and 70 men, of Bourdeaux, which had taken 4 British merchantmen, names unknown, taken by the Cambrian, in company with the Superb, and Venerable in lat. 42. The prize-master left the East India convoy all well the 18th of March. The Venerable, 74 guns, by her boats, had taken out the sinking crew of a Spanish Brig water-logged, which went down soon after.

23 Apr 1801 the Venerable departed the East India squadron in lat 14, N., long 27, W., the convoy continuing under the command of the Cambrian.

21 May 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound the Spanish vessels Santa Teresa and the brig El Rosario, both laden with Buenos Ayres hides and tallow from the Rio de la Plata, captured the 17th ult. in the latitude of the Canary Isles, by the Superb, Venerable, and Cambrian, which they left all well the 18th ult. The Superb was cruising in those seas to intercept a Spanish 64 with money, armed en flute, and four sail of ships with similar cargoes to the Santa Teresa : they were to sail from Rio de la Plata some days after the above prizes. The Superb, and Cambrian were convoying the outward bound East India ships to the Cape of Good Hope.

22 Jul 1801 it was reported in the UK that the Superbe, Venerable, and Cambrian, had chased into Cadiz Bay, three French frigates, having on board two French Centre Admirals and seamen, for the Spanish squadron of 12 sail of the line fitting for sea there, and that their sailing had been retarded by one of the storehouses full of naval stores having caught fire in the dock-yard, and been totally consumed. They were waiting for Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez's squadron from Gibraltar to block them up.

22 Aug 1801 arrived Spithead from St. Helena with dispatches from Admiral Curtis, at the Cape of Good Hope, and with the Danish ship Cron Prince, from Batavia, with coffee and other goods which she detained on the presumption of its being Dutch property.

1 Sep 1801 departed Spithead to attend his Majesty at Weymouth.

3 Oct 1801 came into Plymouth Sound, the Cambrian, from Weymouth, the Royal Family having returned to London and the Royal Yachts to the River.

12 Oct 1801 was appointed to vice Captain Legge, absent on leave.

31 Dec 1801 the Cambrian, Capt Towry, remained in Plymouth Sound.

8 Feb 1802 remains in Plymouth Sound.

20 Feb 1802 departed Plymouth Sound the Cambrian, 44, for the Downs and Sheerness, just as her launch was going to the Devils Point, with a midshipman and eight seamen for fresh beef from the slaughter house, the launch grounded, and notwithstanding their exertions, she remained aground, and the officers and crew were turned over to the Cambridge, flag ship, as supernumeraries. 1 Mar 1802 by the great exertions of Captain Fraser, and crew of the Eagle revenue cutter ; the cutter which got on shore in the gale of wind on Wednesday last in Hamoaze, was completely got off, and is now safe in Dock at Frank's Quarry.

22 Feb 1802 arrived in the Downs, and departed for Sheerness.

8 Mar 1802 departed Sheerness, the Cambrian, Capt Towry, for Plymouth.

9 Mar 1802 passed through the Downs for Portsmouth. Perhaps illustrates the problems experienced by newspaper correspondents in those days, when perhaps Plymouth appears to have been the destination.

11 Mar 1802 arrived Plymouth Sound the Cambrian, 44, from a cruise.

16 Mar 1802 departed Plymouth Sound for Sheerness.

21 Mar 1802 arrived Sheerness from Plymouth.

29 Mar 1802 arrived in the Downs.

30 Mar 1802 arrived Spithead the Cambrian, from the Downs.

5 Apr 1802 the Banffshire Fencibles were landed and marched to Fort Cumberland.

8 Apr 1802 following the Ajax being paid off at Portsmouth, R.-Adm. Sir Ralph Milbanke raised his flag, for CinC, on board the Cambrian.

22 Apr 1802 paid off at Spithead, and is ordered to be recommissioned again.

Circa 24 Apr 1802 Captain Bradley apptd to the Cambrian, vice Towry.

9 May 1802 V.-Adm. Sir Andrew Mitchell raised his flag on board the Cambrian, which is expected to depart shortly for Halifax where Adm Mitchell will be Commander in Chief on that station.

13 Jun 1802 departed Spithead the Cambrian, 44, Vice-Admiral Sir A. Mitchell, Capt. Bradley, for Halifax.

9 Sep 1802 the Lord Charles Spencer, packet from Falmouth, arrived at Halifax, where the Leander and Cambrian were at anchor.

Circa 26 Jul 1803 the Leander, 50, departed Halifax, NS, with the Cambrian, 44 ; Driver, 16 ; and Lilly, 14 ; on a cruise.

22 Mar 1804 captured the French privateer Tison.

26 Mar 1804 captured the French privateer Alexandre.

Circa 25 Aug 1804 Capt Beresford apptd to the Cambrian, vice Bradley.

May 1805 Halifax Station

13 Jun 1805 ship's boats capture the Spanish privateer schooner Maria, 14 guns, 60 men.

3 Jul 1805 captured the French privateer schooner Matilda.

4-21 Jul 1805 the schooner Maria detached to St.-Mary's river in search of a Spanish schooner privateer and two captured merchant ships, which were taken on the 7th.

25 Apr 1806 the incident which brought about the case involving the American coasting-sloop Richard, Jesse Pierce, master, and the death of his brother John Pierce.

13 Dec 1810 ships' boats of a squadron detached to capture or destroy an enemy convoy in the mole of Palamos, covered by the Sparrowhawk and Minstrel.

24 June 1811 Reported to be off Tarragona.

Portsmouth 3 Nov 1811 arrived at Spithead from the Mediterranean, with dispatches and a convoy and placed under quarantine at the Motherbank.

Portsmouth 5 Nov 1811 arrived in St. Helen's from the Mediterranean, and received pratique this morning.

Portsmouth 17 Nov 1811 departed for Plymouth.

Plymouth 20 Nov 1811 arrived from the Mediterranean, last from Portsmouth.

Plymouth 4 Aug 1820 Is reported to be fitting for foreign service, probably in the Mediterranean.

7 Oct 1821 Is escorting merchant vessels in the Archipelago as a result of acts of piracy in the region.

23 Oct 1821 remained at Smyrna with the Rose, Martin and Medina, when the Racehorse departed for England.

13 Jan 1822 at Malta with the Rochefort, Martin and Adventure when the transport Star departed Valetta for England.

18 Mar 1824 captured Quattro Fratelli ; account of the proceeds deposited with the High Court of Admiralty on 16 Jun 1831.

25 Oct 1825 Corfu, Lord Cochrane is daily expected here to intercept the Turkish supplies and reinforcements which are daily expected at Tripolitza (sic), and thus save what is left to the righteous cause of the Greeks. Sorry am I to say that Ibrahim Pacha has nearly overrun the Morea, and destroyed the villages and cattle. Missolonghi still holds out nobly, but it is not secure. The Greeks have offered to place themselves under our protection, on the same terms as the Ionian Islands are placed. The Cambrian, Capt Hamilton, has been to Modon, to effect an exchange between the son of the Bey of Maina, who was taken by Ibrahim at Navarin, and the Pacha of Napoli, who was taken by the Greeks. The Sybille, Capt Pechell, is cruising on the coast of Morea after pirates ; the Naiad, Hon Capt Spencer, is in the Archipelago ; the Rose has been employed these 2 months surveying the coast of Morea, principally in the Bay of Kolokythia ; the Medina is off Cerigo, her second master, Mr W Eshelby (of Portsea), is appointed Acting Master of the Rose ; Zebra, at Zante ; Chanticleer on the Ionian Station ; Weazle at Malta.Hampshire Telegraph - Monday 21 November 1825.

Smyrna 30 May 1826 Announces that she intends to sail to Malta on 8 June with a convoy for merchant vessels ; if she does not sail, they will be accompanied to a safe distance to the westward of the archipelago by HM ships.

5 Sep 1826 Lloyds' agent at Smyrna reports that the Brisk gave convoy through the Archipelago to 6 British merchant vessels. The Cambrian, Seringapatam, and Rose, with marines from on board the Revenge, which remained at Smyrna, with the Glasgow and the Medina, sailed a few days ago, supposed for the purpose of looking for pirates, although no further depredations have been heard of. According to the last account the Turkish Fleet, under the command of Captain Pacha, was in the Scio Channel, and the Greek squadron of 30 - 40 sail was cruising near Samos. The Agent goes on to say that we doubt whether the Turkish expedition against that island will succeed, as many of the troops are returning from the sea coast to the interior, and the ship commanded by the Captain Pacha is said to have put into Foggia, leaky. There is no news of Captain Cochrane being in these seas.

6 Jan 1827 Employed in the Mediterranean.

Malta 12 May 1827 Employed protecting British trade in the Archipelago, at Alexandria, and around the coasts of Syria and Caramania.

1827 the diplomatic and political situation which led the Battle of Navarin.

After 4 Oct 1827 despatched to confirm the truth of reports regards the actions of the Turkish army against the unfortunate Greeks of the Morea.

14 Oct 1827 state of the Allied Fleet off the Bay of Navarin and the numbers of Turkish vessels present. See also p. 256-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

20 Oct the Allied Fleet entered the Bay of Navarin and anchored opposite their Turkish equivalents, and shortly afterwards, following some sporadic firing, the battle became general. Numbers of allied personnel killed and wounded at the Battle of Navarin (a.k.a. Navarino), and the names of British Officers killed and wounded. Medals granted to all surviving Officers, seamen and marines (and soldiers who served as marines) per order of 7th June, 1848. � Prize Money see Sep 1834.

20 Oct 1827 Battle of Navarino (a.k.a. Navarin). Ibrahim Pacha being in breach of his treaty with the Allies, ships of the British, French and Russian navies entered the bay of Navarin to confront the Turco-Egyptian fleet. Medals granted to all Officers, seamen and marines (and soldiers who served as marines) per order of 7th June, 1848

Malta 29 Dec 1827 Is expected to return to England in the near future.

31 Jan 1828 with a squadron at Grabusa under Commodore Sir T. Staines, destroyed a number of vessels which had been used for piracy. Wrecked whilst exiting the scene. See p. 261-2 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

7 Apr 1831 prize money due to be paid as a result of the capture of the Quattro Fratelli, on 18 Mar 1824.

7 Apr 1831 prize money due to be paid as a result of the capture of a Greek piratical vessel on 27 Jun 1827.

� 30 Sep 1834 prize money for Navarin due for payment from 1 Oct 1834 - see London Gazette of 30 Sep for for details www.gazettes-online.co.uk.