HMS Loire

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Loire, 1798
Type: 5th Rate ; Armament 40 (28 x 18 pdr ; 10 x 8 pdr ; 4 x 36 pdr carronades)
Taken : 18 Oct 1798 ; Disposal date or year : 1818
BM: 1100 tons
Complement: 284
Notes:

18 Oct 1798 Anson and Kangaroo capture the Loire. Subsequently purchased into the service.

28 Jan 1799 Plymouth, went into dock.

27 Mar 1799 Plymouth, in Hamoaze, fitting for sea.

19 Apr 1799 Plymouth, fitting for sea in Hamoaze.

21 Apr 1799 Plymouth, Mr. Whitford, coroner, took an inquisition on a seaman of Loire, who fell from the main-top, and was killed : verdict, accidental death.

7 May 1799 in Hamoaze.

27 Jun 1799 Plymouth, went down into the Sound.

20 Nov 1799 Plymouth, went up the harbour the Majestic, 74, to be paid off, and some of her men turned over to Loire, 48, and Decade, 44.

10 Dec 1799 Plymouth, departed on a two month cruise to the westward with the Nereide.

07 Jan 1800 7 Jan 1800 Plymouth, this afternoon, at ten A. M. the Atlas 98, Captain Jones (which arrived from Torbay the 1st inst., with the loss of her rudder, and having shipped a temporary one) was turning out of the Sound to go up Hamoaze, near the south-east ridge of St. Nicholas's Island, she missed stays, and went ashore where the Conqueror 74 guns, was lost in 1758: fortunately La Loire, 48, Capt. Newman, coming in from sea, and seeing her situation, though ill himself, gave directions to Lieutenant Rayner, first Lieutenant, who with the assistance of the other officers and ship's company, moored La Loire as near the Atlas as could be done with safety, with three anchors out ahead : by this time her masts were all cut away, and she struck very hard on the rocks. The boats of the Fleet being now at hand, an hawser was payed from the best bower of La Loire on board the Atlas. Fortunately the tide was flowing fast and at two P.M. she swung off into deep water, anchored in the Sound, and if the weather moderates will, it is hoped, get into Hamoaze to morrow. Great credit is due to Captain Jones, his officers and Atlas's crew ; to Captain Newman, Lieutenant Rayner, and the officers and crew of La Loire ; and indeed to all the boats of the Fleet. At one period it was thought she would have hung amidships.

30 Jan 1800 Plymouth, departed on a cruise, La Loire, 48, Capt. Newman ; La Railleur, 18, Capt. Turquand ; and Danae, 24, Capt. Lord Proby ; to look for a frigate and corvette a convoy from St. Maloes for Brest. The French 38-gun frigate Pallas, was captured on 6 Feb, and subsequently purchased into the Service as the Pique.

7 Feb 1800 Plymouth, arrived a trawler, Harper, master, who fell in with, two leagues S. E. of the Edystone, La Loire, and Railleur, with their prize, La Pallas, 44 guns and 350 men, taken only six hours after she left St. Maloes, after a well fought close and running action of two hours ; she is quite new, her first cruise, and was bound for Brest, and from thence for the Mauritius. Harper put a pilot on board La Pallas, as she was much disabled, her main-top-mast gone over the side, standing and running rigging and sails cut to ribbons, and scarcely a brace or bowline left. The wind blowing hard at E.S.E. Loire, Pallas, and Railleur bore away for Falmouth.

12 Feb 1800 Plymouth, on the arrival of the letter to Mr. P. Symonds, broker to Capt. Newman of the Loire, he waited on Admiral Sir T. Paisley, who ordered Voltigeur, 18, Capt. Shortland, with a supply of spars and other necessary stores to her assistance. She departed this afternoon with a fair wind.

20 Feb 1800 Plymouth, arrived from Cork, where the Loire and La Railleur were driven 14 days since by the violent gale at east, having left the Railleur to bring over a convoy for the Downs.

23 Feb 1800 Plymouth, went into Barnpool to refit the damage sustained in the action with La Pallas.

30 Mar 1800 Plymouth, went into Cawsand Bay, the Terrible, 74 guns, and the Loire.

1 Apr 1800 Plymouth, departed for Torbay, with stores for the fleet.

11 Apr 1800 Plymouth, arrived from Torbay.

18 Apr 1800 Plymouth, departed with 150 French prisoners for Portsmouth.

19 Apr 1800 Portsmouth, arrived.

3 May 1800 Portsmouth, departed with the Mercury, and a large convoy for the Mediterranean.

6 May 1800 Plymouth, arrived from Portsmouth.

15 May 1800 after a 5 hour chase captured the French schooner privateer Francoise, 12 guns and 42 men, bound from Bourdeaux to Guadaloupe.

24 May 1800 captured on the Mediterranean station the French vessel Fanny.

16 Jun 1800 at Lisbon.

25 Jun 1800 captured on the Mediterranean station the French Vessel Francis, laden with Wine.

31 Jul 1800 Plymouth, passed up with the Lisbon and Oporto convoys, all well ; also the valuable Straits convoy, with several rich silk ships from Smyrna.

2 Aug 1800 Plymouth, arrived a schooner privateer, 16 guns, prize to La Loire, 48, taken on her passage home with the Lisbon fleet.

3 Aug 1800 Portsmouth, arrived from the Mediterranean ; on Thursday she was cleared from quarantine, and on Friday came into harbour. Captain Retalick, RN, came passenger in her.

7 Sep 1800 Portsmouth, departed for Jersey.

15 Oct 1800 Plymouth, arrived, to refit.

21 Oct 1800 Plymouth, P.M. departed for Guernsey.

6 Nov 1800 Portsmouth, arrived the Loire from Jersey, where she lost her anchors and cables and at high tide was reported to have passed over a ledge of rocks, the night being pitchy dark and had given themselves up.

1 Dec 1800 Portsmouth, departed with the Endymion, and Gorgon (store-ship), for St. Helen�s.

23 Dec 1800 Portsmouth, arrived the Loire from a cruise.

30 Dec 1800 departed Spithead for the French Coast, with the Topaze, Loire and Active, in an attempt to confront a number of French frigates attempting escape Dunkirk, but due to the strong southerly wind had to put back to St. Helen's on the evening of 1 Jan.

3 Jan 1801 arrived at St. Helens with the Active from off Havre.

4 Jan 1801 arrived back at Spithead, from off Havre, with the Active, Topaze following a little later with all her masts sprung.

13 Jan 1801 departed Spithead with the Active and Wolverene, to cruise off Havre.

20 Jan 1801 arrived Spithead from off Havre de Grace.

5 Feb 1801 arrived Spithead from cruising the French coast.

15 Feb 1801 departed Spithead with the Jason and Sophie to cruise on the coast of France.

18 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound from the coast of France.

19 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound.

21 Feb 1801 departed Plymouth Sound for Portsmouth.

21 Feb 1801 arrived Spithead, having reportedly been on shore on the Horse Sand, but got off without damage. Wind SSW and squally.

27 Feb 1801 departed Spithead with the Jason on a cruise.

6 Mar 1801 arrived Spithead the Loire, and Jason, from a cruise, during which they detained the Danish brig Bontine, from Charleston, for Hamburgh, in the Channel.

11 Mar 1801 departed Spithead with the Jason, on a cruise.

19 Mar 1801 arrived Spithead with the Active, from a cruise, along with a French corvette, her prize.

25 Mar 1801 arrived Spithead from a cruise off Cherbourg.

6 Apr 1801 departed Spithead on a cruise off Havre.

14 Apr 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound from a cruise.

15 Apr 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound the Beaver, Captain O'Connor, from Oporto for London, with wine. She parted company with the convoy the 2d instant, and was captured the 10th by La Braave French privateer, of 18 guns and 70 men, the Captain of which put on board a prize-master and 4 men, leaving only Captain O'Connor and a boy on board the Beaver. He contrived to secure the French prize master, by seizing him and tying his hands behind him in the cabin, and locked the cabin door ; then ran on deck with a crow bar and pistol, and in the scuffle the steersman fell overboard, and was drowned. The other three being aloft in the tops, he took the helm, and ordered them to stay there, or he would shoot them. In this anxious state he remained all night, the Beaver making very little way, being very leaky : the morning's dawn proved propitious, for on his weatherbow he descried a frigate bearing down towards him. He contrived to make a signal of distress ; and the Loire, 48 guns, Captain Newman, bore down, sent a boat with an officer and eight men to assist, and brought her safe in here. Great praise is due to Captain O'Connor for his coolness and presence of mind in saving a valuable ship and cargo to the owners and underwriters.

18 Apr 1801 departed Plymouth Sound on a cruise off the Coast of France with L'Ambuscade.

23 Apr 1801 arrived Spithead from a cruise off Cherbourg.

7 Jun 1801 led in an attack, with the Wolverine on gun boats &c. off Havre, but was unable to follow due to lack of water : the French squadron included some 15 small vessels with 95 cannon. The Wolverine armed with 12 guns, and 70 men, stood in and engaged the whole line for half an hour, amongst a shower of shot and shell, and was surprised at the end to find that no one was hurt, nor a rope or sail cut, and receive 3 cheers from the crew of the Loire on returning to sea. The operation was carried out again a day or so later, when the French were forced to withdraw into Havre after an hour. Captain Newman of the Loire wrote to the Admiralty describing the affair, and the need for more suitable vessels than the frigate to be involved, so that they could go closer in shore.

22 Jun 1801 reports received at Plymouth that the Loire had been captured by 2 French frigates, and gun vessels in the road at Havre. Not true. See next item. But it does perhaps illustrate how easily rumours like this can be spread.

30 Jun 1801 letters were received Plymouth from the Loire, dated at sea the 24th instant, by which is learnt to the satisfaction of that town and dock, that she was safe, and her gallant captain, officers, and crew, all well, and had not been ashore at Isle Bas at all. The report of her having been captured, arose it seems from her reconnoitring the port of Havre, and not returning with the tide, it was imagined she had been on shore.

19 Jul 1801 departed the Suffisante, with live stock and vegetables for the squadron off Havre; viz. Clyde, Lapwing, La Loire, and Trent.

6 Aug 1801 arrived Spithead the American ship Frederick, Graham, master, from New York to Dieppe, stopped by La Loire going into Havre-de-Grace, also Dorothea, Mathewson, from Norway.

25 Aug 1801 arrived the Headwin, with coffee, detained and sent in by the Loire.

27 Aug 1801 arrived Spithead from a five months cruise, off Havre.

11 Dec 1801 departed Spithead Le Loire, for Marcou (off Cape la Hogue).

15 Dec 1801 arrived Spithead La Loire, from Marcou.

28 Dec 1801 departed Spithead with the Topaze, to cruise off Havre.

24 Jan 1802 departed Spithead, the Loire, Capt Newman, "to look after the smugglers." A later report suggests that she was to cruise off S. Yarmouth.

18 Apr 1802 arrived Spithead from S. Yarmouth Roads.

5 May 1802 the ship's company, having been paid off at Portsmouth, and embarked in their wherries prior to departing the Loire, gave three cheers to Capt Newman before departing for shore, as a show of appreciation and respect for their commanding officer.

26 Sep 1802 a seaman saved by accident out of the Nimble packet boat, from Plymouth to Portsmouth, (with 75 passengers,) off the Proule Head, about a fortnight since, has arrived here and made a deposition before the Justices ; he states, that she was ran foul of by a large ship off the Bolt Tail, and started a butt end at some distance from the shore, she parted in two. when he luckily took to the boat, and tried to save the master of the Loire, 44, who held as long by the stern as his strength would permit, but being quite exhausted, at length went down ; this man was the only person saved. Drowned, Mr Bennett, the Captain of the Nimble, the Master of the Loire, his wife, and four children ; lieutenant Kelly of the Royal Navy, son of the Honourable Mrs. Kelly Aunt of Lord Boringdon, and 67 discharged seamen and their wives.

17 Oct 1802 the Apollo and La Loire frigates are to be commissioned at Portsmouth.

Circa 12 Nov 1802 Alexander Davidson, gunner's mate, fell from aloft, and died a few hours later.

Circa 21 Nov 1802 Mr. ???? to be purser of La Loire frigate.

27 Dec 1802 remains in Portsmouth harbour, Capt Maitland.

23 Jan 1803 remains in Portsmouth harbour, fitting out.

Circa 28 Jan 1803 a court martial was held on Patrick Smith for deserting from HM Ship Loire, and entering on board HM Ship Hydra. Being found guilty he was sentenced to receive 50 lashes on board the former ship.

7 Feb 1803 went out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead.

11 Mar 1803 late last night departed Spithead for Guernsey to procure seamen.

Circa 27 Jun 1803 Lieutenant Bertram, apptd to the Loire.

29 Jun 1803 the revenue cutter Eagle arrived Plymouth from a cruise off the Isle of Bas and reports that the Loire has been busy chasing a French privateer schooner into the Isle of Bas, and left her in chase of a supposed French frigate who failed to reply to her signals.

14 Jul 1803 having been refitted departed Plymouth for her station of the Isle Bas, with a view to preventing communication up and down the French coast.

27 Jun 1803, ship's boats captured the French 10-gun brig Venteux.

3 Oct 1803 arrived Plymouth from a cruise.

16 Mar 1804 after a chase of 7 hours captured the French privateer Brave, of St Maloes, 16 guns, and 110 men, on the Irish station, out 3 weeks without having made any captures.

Circa 30 Jun 1804 on Tuesday se'nnight, the Committee of the Patriotic Fund, presented a sword to Capt Bowen, RN, one of the Commissioners of the Transport Board, for his son, Lieut Bowen, of the Loire, absent on active service.

17 Aug 1804 captured the French ship privateer Blonde.

Circa 1 Sep 1804 is reported at Portsmouth to have arrived Plymouth with the French privateer Blonde.

2 Jun 1805 captured the Spanish privateer Esperanza, 7 guns, 4 swivels 50 men, off Cape Finisterre.

1-2 Jun 1805 ship's boats capture the Spanish felucca Esperanza, alias San-Pedro, along with three small merchant vessels, laden with wine.

4 Jun 1805 ship's boats capture the fort at Muros, the French privateer Confiance ; the privateer brig Belier, and a Spanish merchant brig. The Confiance was purchased into the Service.

25 Jun 1805 captured the French privateer Valiant at sea.

24 Dec 1805 Egyptienne and Loire captured the French 38-gun frigates Libre, which was not purchased into the service. The Loire and Libre arrived Plymouth 1 Jan 1806.

22 Apr 1806 captured the Spanish privateer Princess of Peace, 14 guns, 23 men.

5 Jan 1809 captured the French ship-corvette H�b�, which was added to the British navy by the name of Ganymede.

Plymouth 19 Jan 1811 Went up the harbour.

Plymouth 22 Mar 1811 departed to the westward.

Plymouth 24 Mar 1811 departed on a cruise off Brest.

Plymouth 30 Mar 1811 Under orders to join the Baltic fleet.

Portsmouth 11 Apr 1811 departed for the Baltic.

Deal 15 Apr 1811 departed to the eastward.

Deal 7 Nov 1811 arrived from the Baltic.

Plymouth 21 Nov 1811 arrived from Portsmouth.

Plymouth 23 Nov 1811 Went up the harbour to be refitted.

Plymouth 13 Jan 1812 To sail tomorrow for off the Black Rock.

Plymouth 14 Jan 1812 departed to the eastward.

Torbay 5 Feb 1812 departed for Plymouth.

Plymouth Dock 23 Feb 1812 arrived from a cruise off Brest.

Falmouth 23 Jun 1812 Passed by from Torbay with a transport for Goree.

30 Oct 1812, Portsmouth, at a court martial on board the Gladiator, for the trial of Joseph Gibson, a seaman, of the Loire, on a charge of stabbing Lieut. Richard Croker on 23 Sep. 1812, whilst on passage from St. Helena to England, and for using a vile expression to the Signal Midshipman, and on being found guilty was condemned to death.

Portsmouth 24 Mar 1813 departed.

28 May 1813, arrived Halifax with the Contest and a convoy, much dispersed due to thick fog, with some vessels having arrived on 26th inst., having reputedly parted 4 days previously

4 Jun 1813 departed Halifax with the Sceptre and Boxer for Bermuda.

12 Jun 1813 captured the American ship Caledonia : sent to Bermuda.

29 Jul 1813 arrived Halifax, N.S., from New London, very leaky, having been ashore on Plumb Island.

Circa Jul 1813 the Loire and Martin captured the Ship Jane and Brig Alicia, on the N.A. & W. Indies station.

24 Sep 1813 departed Halifax with the Ramillies.

25 Oct 1813, sent in to Halifax, the schooner Sally, from Georgetown to Boston, a prize to the Loire.

7 Dec 1813, arrived Halifax, the American schooner Gen. Marion, from N. Bedford, bound to Charleston and Bordeaux, with provisions, prize to the Ramillies and Loire.

mid-late 1813 the whale-ship The Policy, a prize to the US ship Essex, with a full cargo of oil, departed Valparaiso for the US and was captured by the Loire.

10 Dec 1813 captured a U.S. privateer, the 5 gun Rolla.

18 Feb 1814 Loire reported to be off New York when supposedly mistaken for the 74 gun ship Plantagenet !

Bermuda circa 9 Apr 1814 Remains.

6 Jun 1814 the Loire and Jasseur join the St.-Lawrence and ships' boats of the Albion and Dragon, but having retreated in to shallow water US flotilla remained safe.

15 Jun 1814 Narcissus joined the squadron in Chesapeake bay and various boats expeditions were carried out.

26 Jun 1814 US action forced the Loire and Narcissus to retreat to a station near Point Patience.

4 Jul 1814 the Severn arrived in Chesapeake bay. 19 Jul-12 Aug the arrival of a battalion of marines, and a detachment of marine artillery enabled the squadron to mount further expeditions ashore using the ships' boats of the Albion, Dragon, Loire, Jaseur, Narcissus, Severn and St.-Lawrence.

26 Oct 1814, arrived Halifax, from a cruise.

22 Nov 1814, Loire departed Halifax, with the escorts Penelope and Recruit, and a convoy for England.

12 Dec 1814 arrived Plymouth, from Halifax with a convoy.

29 Jan 1815 departed Portsmouth, in search for American frigates.

28 Aug 1816 lying at Plymouth ; offered for sale.

Navy Office 19 Aug 1817 Ordered to be sold.