Thetis, 1817
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 46
Launched : 1817 ; Disposal date or year : 5 Dec 1830
Disposal Details : Wrecked off Cape Frio ; Capt Saml. Burgess
Notes:

22 Aug 1817 departed Milford for Plymouth.

13 Jun 1824 arrived Sierra Leone ; watered and victualled prior to sailing for Cape Coast Castle on the 17th with units of the Royal African Colonial Corps on board.

From 4 - 11 Jul 1824, defence of Cape Coast Castle by the Royal African Colonial Corps and men of the Thetis and Swinger, 12, against the Ashantee. See p. 237 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

14 Oct 1824 in Portsmouth Harbour.

3 Jan 1825 arrived Falmouth from an experimental cruise.

10 Jan 1825 departed Falmouth on a cruise.

25 Feb 1825 arrived Falmouth from a cruise.

2 Mar 1825 departed Falmouth on a cruise.

28 Apr 1825 arrived Falmouth from a cruise.

5 May 1825 Phillimore, departed Falmouth on a cruise.

22 May 1824 departed Falmouth on a cruise.

28 Jun 1825 arrived Falmouth from a cruise and departed the same day.

13 Aug 1825 Phillimore, arrived Falmouth from a cruise.

15 Aug 1825 Phillimore, departed Falmouth on a cruise.

8 Oct 1825 at Portsmouth : when the wind moderates, will sail for Naples.

19 Dec 1825 departed Naples for England.

6 Jan 1826 assisted the James Munro to get off, after she was driven on shore at Gibraltar on 3d inst.

3 Oct 1826 arrived Portsmouth from Rio de Janeiro with specie.

6 Oct 1826 departed Portsmouth for Plymouth.

14 Oct 1826 arrived Plymouth from Portsmouth.

20 Jun 1827 had departed Rio de Janeiro for Bahia.

1 Aug 1827 remains in the harbour at Rio Janeiro.

11 Apr 1828 remains in the harbour at Rio Janeiro.

5 May 1829 reported to be in the river Plate.

3 Oct 1829 departed Buenos Ayres for the Pacific, via the Falkland Islands.

27 Sep 1830 It is reported that British men-of-war are no longer welcombe at Chili's ports.

10 Nov 1830 arrived at Rio Janeiro from Lima.

2 Dec 1830 departed Rio de Janeiro for England.

5 Dec 1830 Wrecked off Cape Frio, having departed from Rio de Janeiro the previous day. She is said to have been carrying a large quantity of specie, possibly as much as $800,000. It is reported that 20 of her crew may have been lost. The disaster was reported to the Flag Officer at Rio on the 10th, by Lieutenant Hamilton, who travelled overland from Cape Frio.

For a report of the loss of the vessel by her Captain in the United Service Journal, Part I, 1831, page 403.

15 Mar 1831 a Court-Martial assembled on board the Wellesley, 74, at Portsmouth, and continued by adjournment until the 22nd, to inquire into the circumstances and cause attending the loss of the Thetis, on the 5th December last, at Cape Frio, and to try her Captain, Samuel Burgess, officers, and ship's company for the same. The Court was composed of the following officers: Capt. Samuel C. Rowley, Wellesley, President; Capt. Wellesley, Sapphire ; Capt. Grey, Actaeon ; Capt. Dundas, Belvidera ; Capt. Phillips, Ariadne ; Capt. Parker, Asia; Capt. Senhouse, St. Vincent; and Capt. Martin, Samarang. The particulars of this unfortunate accident have already appeared in our pages. The Court having been sworn, and the various witnesses examined, the substance of the sentence read was as follows; Considering the state of the weather, too much dependance was placed on the dead-reckoning, and that the sounding had been neglected; blame was attributed to Captain Burgess and Mr. Gowdy, the master ; but in consideration of their former services, the Court did adjudge Captain Burgess to lose one year's rank, and Mr. Gowdy to lose two years' rank. The remaining officers and crew to be acquitted. The Court paid a high compliment to Mr. Geach, for his conduct in saving so many of the crew. Captains Austin and Coghlan spoke in high terms of Captain Burgess's abilities, and Mr. Gowdy produced most satisfactory testimonials from Sir J. Phillimore and Sir F. Collier.

Mar 1831 The captain and Officers of his Majesty's late ship Thetis have presented to Mr. Jacob Geach, boatswain, a very elegant silver cup; and to John Langley, Captain of the Foretop, a handsome silver tobacco box, for their manly and intrepid conduct on the night of the 5th of December. The petty officers and seamen of the Thetis' also presented a gold chain, call, and plate with an inscription expressive of their gratitude to Mr. Geach, for his exertions in saving the lives of the crew on the occasion.

13 May 1831 over $130,000 had been recovered at Cape Frio under the supervision of Captain Dickinson, HMS Lightning.

Mar 1832 Recovery of her cargo at Cape Frio continues under the supervision of Captain Dickinson, HMS Lightning, and over $500,000 had been recovered and sent to England. Captain Dickenson was relieved by Captain de Roos of the Algerine. See the London Saturday Journal for March 1839, Page 138, for some details regards the recovery of the treasure.

May 1832 the search for her treasure at Cape Frio is reported to have been abandoned, but was to continue successfully for a few more months.