HMS Diadem

Naval Database

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Diadem, 1782
Type: Store ship / Troop ship from 1798 ; late 3rd rate ; Armament 64
Launched : 1782 ; Disposal date or year : 1832
BM: 1376 tons
Complement: 485
Notes:

Apr / May 1793 departed under the command of Captain Andrew Sutherland, as a part of a squadron for the Mediterranean Fleet, then to be based off Toulon.

9 Mar 1795, the Mediterranean fleet departed from Leghorn, sighting the French fleet the following day. At daylight on the 13th Adm. Hotham sent out the signal for a general chase which ended the following day with the capture of the Ca-Ira and Censeur and the fleets heading off in opposite directions. [Captain Charles Tyler].

14 Jun 1795 the fleet, whilst on a cruise, was joined by a squadron from Gibraltar and England off Minorca.

8 Jul 1795, the fleet, at anchor at in San Fiorenzo bay, once aware that the French fleet was close by, gave chase. It was sighted on the 13th and later the order was given for the general chase, but apart from the loss of a 74 by the French the result was inconclusive and resulted in not a little criticism, the consequence perhaps being Admiral Hotham's resignation on 1 Nov 1795.

6 Aug 1795, Admiral Hotham put to sea on a cruise, sighting the French fleet in Toulon road.

27 Dec 1795 Captain Troubridge's squadron, including the Diadem, when off Cape Matapan, chased the Badine, a part of M. Ganteaume's squadron. The Badine anchored close off the town; and on the next day the Lowestoffe anchored alongside of her. On the 31st of December Commodore Troubridge, with the remainder of his squadron, anchored in the harbour of Milo, and subsequently steered for Smyrna.

23 Apr 1796 the Agamemnon, Diadem, Captain George Henry Towry, Meleager, and Peterel, detached to cruise off Vado.

25 Apr 1796 La�na bay. The Peterel and boats from the Agamemnon, Diadem, Meleager, cut out 4 French merchant vessels.

By 31 May 1796 Commodore Nelson's squadron, augmented by the Blanche, and Speedy.

31 May 1796 Oneglia. The boats from a part of Cdre. Nelson's squadron, despite heavy fire, bring off 6 heavily laden transports.

21 Dec 1796 the Tagus. The Mediterranean fleet arrived.

Circa 20 Jan 1797 departed from the Tagus with a Portuguese convoy and was subsequently, 6 Feb., joined off Cape St.-Vincent by a squadron detached from the Channel fleet.

14 Feb 1797 Jervis's action with the Spanish off Cape St Vincent.

31 Mar 1797 departed from Lisbon to blockade Cadiz.

19 Mar 1799 at Spithead, fitted as a Store Ship / Troop Ship.

7 Apr 1799 Spithead, departed with the West Yorks militia, for Dublin.

14 Oct 1799 Portsmouth, a Court Martial was held on board the Gladiator, on William Moore, a seaman belonging to the Diadem, 64, for having declared that if every man was of his mind they would drag Lieutenants Rowe and Dyer out of their cabins and murder them, and for uttering other mutinous expressions. The charges being proved, the Prisoner was sentenced by the Court to receive 20 lashes on board of, and along-side such ships as the Commander in Chief should direct : to be mulcted of his pay, and to two years solitary confinement in the Marshalsea.

14 Oct 1799 Spithead, a Court Martial was also held on board the Gladiator, on Robert Nelson, quarter-master of the Diadem for mutinous expressions. He was acquitted.

16 Oct 1799 Spithead, a Court Martial was also held on board the Gladiator, on William Sheard, John Moore, Henry Jones, and John Porteous, seamen of the same ship, for writing a letter, containing false charges, against Captain Dawson and the Officers of the Diadem, and other mutinous conduct. Jones and Porteous were found guilty. The latter, being writer of the letter, was sentenced to receive one hundred lashes from ship to ship, and be imprisoned one year in solitary confinement in the Marshalsea � Jones is to have fifty lashes on board his own ship. Sheard and Moore were acquitted.

Circa Jan 1800 Sir Thomas Livingstone, Bart, is promoted to the rank of Post Captain, and appointed to command the Diadem, 64.

3 Apr 1800 Spithead, arrived the Diadem in 28 hours from Cork.

18 Apr 1800 Spithead, a Court Martial, was held on board the Gladiator, on John Briscow, a marine of the Diadem, for writing a letter to General Averne, and causing others to sign it, calculated to stir up a disturbance in the ship. The charge being proved, he was sentenced to receive two hundred lashes from ship to ship, and to be imprisoned 6 months in the Marshalsea.

26-27 May with the Inconstant dropped down to Cowes Roads from Spithead to embark the Gordon Highlanders, who were limited to 25lb. weight per man ; the vessels are understood to be sailing under sealed orders, and thus their destination remains a secret.

29 Jun 1801 cruising off Alexandria, per UK newspapers of this date, reporting news received from off Egypt.

1 Jan 1802 departed Gibraltar the Ulysses, and Diadem, with the troopship Ann, with troops from Egypt.

26 Jan 1802 arrived Spithead and put in quarantine at the Motherbank.

4 Mar 1802 arrived in the Downs from Spithead and departed for Sheerness.

5 Mar 1802 arrived Sheerness, the Diadem, Capt Larmour, from Spithead, and the wind being favourable, proceeded up the Thames to Deptford to be paid off.

Circa 27 Jun 1803 Mr. Yates, of the Diadem, apptd to the York.

Circa 15 Dec 1804 Capt Sir Home Popham apptd to the Diadem.

May 1805 Channel Fleet

26 Nov 1805 - 12 Jan 1806 Expedition, under the orders of Commodore Sir Home Popham, to take the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch, which involved many of the men working ashore as a part of a marine battalion.

4 Mar 1806 as a part of the squadron lying off the Cape of Good Hope captured the French 40-gun frigate Volontaire, added to the navy by the same name.

20 Apr - 31 Dec 1806 a part of an expedition to Monte-Video and Buenos-Ayres.

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

17 Jul 1811 arrived Plymouth Sound (Cawsand Bay?) with transports containing French (sick) prisoners, and departed the following day for Spithead.

21 Aug 1811 arrived Plymouth Sound (Cawsand Bay?) from the eastward.

25 Aug 1811 departed Plymouth Sound (Cawsand Bay?) to the westward.

18 Sep 1811 arrived Spithead from Plymouth with French prisoners for Leith.

23 Sep 1811 departed Spithead for Leith.

23 Sep 1811 Passed through Deal from the westward, with French prisoners for Leith.

13 Oct 1811 arrived Spithead from Leith.

17 Nov 1811 departed Spithead for the Tagus.

21 Dec 1811 arrived Plymouth from Lisbon.

25 Dec 1811 departed Plymouth for Spithead.

30 Dec 1811 departed Spithead with French prisoners for Leith.

1 Feb 1812 arrived Spithead from Plymouth.

10 Jun 1812 departed Spithead with an RM battalion on board, on secret service, and with a number of flat bottomed boats etc.

1 Nov 1812 arrived Spithead an American privateer, her prize.

12 Nov 1812 got under weigh from Spithead this morning, for the Mediterranean with stores, but a fog now obstructs the view of Spithead.

13 Nov 1812 put back to Spithead.

4 Jan 1813 arrived Plymouth from Santona, last from Spithead, having overshot this port, having on board a part of the battalion of Royal Marines from the North of Spain.

11 Jan 1813 remains Plymouth.

29 Mar 1813 arrived Plymouth last week from Spithead and to convey Marines to Canada.

20-25 Jun 1813 San-Domingo, Diadem, Mohawk and Nemesis a part of a squadron carrying troops anchored some distance off Craney island, with a view to carrying out operations ashore.

14 Sep 1813, Diadem, Capt. Hanchett, arrived Halifax, with the squadron from the Chesapeake.

7 Oct 1813, the Diadem and Diomede embarked 1st Bat. of R.M. at Halifax, for Quebec.

7 Nov 1813, arrived Halifax, from Quebec.

28 Jan 1814, at Bermuda.

28 Feb 1814 arrived Falmouth from Bermuda, in 18 days.

10 May 1814 departed Spithead with convoys for the coast of Africa, Brazils, the Cape of Good Hope, the East Indies, and British North America, via Cork.

30 Jun 1814 the Hebrus arrived Halifax, from Cork, with a small convoy, having parted a few days previous with the Leopard, Diadem, and Diomede, with troops for Quebec.

Aug 1814 a portion of the prize money resulting from the various actions in the Chesapeake became due for payment on 1 May 1835 : namely a dividend from the estate of the bankrupt agent Henry Abbott : no doubt one of the many fraudsters who ripped off matelots in those days : both officers and ratings being fair game.

9 Dec 1814 arrived Falmouth from the Chesapeake.

7 Feb 1815 ordered to Cork.

1830 receiving ship, Plymouth.