Sampson / Samson, 1844
Type: 2nd class frigate ; Armament 4
Launched : 1 Oct 1844 ; Disposal date or year : 1864
BM: 1299 tons ; Displacement: 2100 tons
Propulsion: Paddle
Machinery notes: 467
Notes:

Mar 1841 has been ordered to be built at Woolwich.

21 Apr 1847, flag ship of R.-Adm. Sir George Seymour, arrived at Panama, from Callao.

30 Apr 1847, departed Panama towing the survey vessel Herald to the Island of Coyba, on the coast of Veraguas, to water and wood. Whilst collecting wood the carpenters are reported to have cut down Hippomane Mancinella, Linn, and the sap getting into their eyes caused them to go blind for a day or so, apart from being very painful, and the fear that one is going permanently blind.....not being aware that salt water is supposed to be a satisfactory remedy.

9 May 1848, Sir John Franklin's expedition having been reported overdue the Herald was instructed to proceed north to the Polar Seas to co-operate with the relief expedition, being towed a part of the way by the Sampson, departed for the port of Petropaulowski, Kamtschatka, where she arrived 92 days later.

20 Dec 1848, Woolwich.

19-30 Jun 1851 rainy and squally off Badagry. Anchored close to the Niger and exchanged news. Due to the heavy surf the only means of communicating with the shore is by signal, and it is observed that Marryat's signals were being used by Mr. Batten, who advised that there was "no news."

7 Jul 1851 Lieutenant Chas. A. Didham, commanding the Bloodhound, tender to the Sampson, detained a schooner in the New Calabar River following the receipt of intelligence at Fernando Po from the British Consul. The Master and crew had escaped ashore by the time the boarding party had reached the slave vessel, supposed to be the Deseada, which was ready for shipping slaves, and was towed back down river. She was subsequently surveyed and found to be leaky and was destroyed. Note: I've included this report here, on the Sampson's page, since men serving on board the tender Bloodhound may well be on the books of the Sampson.

18 Jul 1851 off Whydah.

6 Oct 1851 off Porto Novo.

10 Oct 1851 when in company with the tender Bloodhound, detained in lat 5� 32' 6" N., and long. 4� 26' E., following a chase of over 60 miles the slave felucca Purissima.

23 Dec 1851 at Lagos, operations recommenced against the usurping King Kosoko with a view to reinstating King Akitoye - see p. 368-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow
see also the Commodore's report of the action to the Admiralty : http://tiny.cc/2zwt6

25 Dec 1851 off Lagos, the second gig capsized on the bar with the doctor and gunner in her, however both were saved and were recovering.

6 Jan 1852 departed Lagos.

7 Jan 1852 spoke with the Philomel at Whydah.

10 Feb 1852 in lat. 38� 56' N. long. 11� 30' W. 22 Apr 1854 Samson, Furious, Terrible, Tiger, Retribution, Arethusa, French vessels and rocket boats attack the military works at Odessa, with the Sans Pareil and Highflyer in reserve - see p. 400-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

28 Apr 1854 allied squadrons reconnoitred Eupatoria - see p. 401 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

29 Apr 1854 off Sebastopol - see p. 401 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

Early days of May 1854 the Agamemnon, Samson, and Highflyer were detached to the eastern shores of the Black Sea - see p. 401-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

Circa 14 Sep 1854 Samson, Fury, Vesuvius, and some French steamers with troops on board, sent to the mouth of the Katcha to deter the Russians from advancing northward - see p. 412-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

22 Sep 1854 the Samson and Terrible, reconnoitred Sebastopol - see p. 433 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

11 Oct 1854, boats from the Samson, Firebrand, Beagle, and French ships towed Austrian transport to safety, near Sebastopol - see p. 436 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

17 Oct 1854 1st Bombardment of Sebastopol - see p. 437 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

13 Feb 1856 Copenhagen - it is reported that the sloop Sampson has succeeded in recovering her anchor and cable, lost a few days previously near Elsinore.

23 Apr 1856, Present at Fleet Review, Spithead ; Captain G. S. Hand

Oct 1856 Hong Kong, departed for the Canton River, towing the Calcutta's boats as far as her draught allowed, when they were detached up the river to Canton, where, with other boats of the squadron, the various Chinese forts guarding the river were captured.

8 Jan 1857 British forces commenced withdrawal from off Canton, to Hong Kong.

15 Jan 1857 Amoy.

15 Mar 1857 Hongkong.

25 May 1857 Foochow.

5 Jun 1857 Hongkong.

30 Oct 1857 Canton River.

28 Dec 1857 Capture of Canton (see also report in London Gazette www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 16 and 26 Feb 1858).

15 Jan 1858 Hongkong.

27 Feb 1858 Amoy.

13 Apr 1858 Shanghai.

5 May 1858 Gulf of Pecheli.

10 Aug 1858 Hongkong.

1 Oct 1856 - 26 Jun 1858 Parliamentary Grant of �33,000, for services (in lieu of Prize Money) on the China Station to be divided between 56 Vessels

24 Aug 1858 Foochow.

31 Mar 1859 Hongkong.

21 May 1859 Japan.

24 Aug 1859 Shanghai.

16 Feb 1860 depart Shanghai for Hongkong.

14 Mar 1860 arrived Hongkong.

23 May 1860 At the North.

7 Jun 1860 Chusan.

23 Jun 1860 At the North.

26 Jul 1860 Gulf of Pecheli.

16 Nov 1860 At the North.

31 Dec 1860 Hongkong, and then appears to leave the Station.