Hired armed ship ''London Packet''

The Hired armed ship London Packet served the Royal Navy from 31 March 1793 to at least 30 September 1800, and despite some records, apparently for a year or more beyond that. She was built in 1792, was of 191 tons burthen (bm), and was armed with ten 4-pounder guns.[1][2]

She was commissioned under Lieutenant J.E. Douglas.[3] Then from May 1794 or so, Lieutenant James Fegan (or Fogan) was captain,[3] with A. Hill as master, at least in 1799.[1]

She appears to have had a completely uneventful career on the Liverpool to Channel station,[1] escorting convoys, to at least until late 1801. In October 1801 she had left Plymouth for Liverpool with 100 French prisoners. Although, or despite having heard in Falmouth of the pending peace treaty with France the prisoners attempted to take over the ship. Lieutenant Fegan and the officers were able to suppress the uprising within minutes without injury to officers or crew, but with some injuries among the prisoners. The news of the treaty had caused the British to relax their precautions and the prisoners had decided to take advantage of this.[4]

At the resumption of war with France in 1803 the Royal Navy did not rehire London Packet. Instead the ship London Packet, of 189 tons burthen (bm), appears to have sailed as a letter of marque under three different masters.[5]

Date of letter Master Armament Crew
29 October 1803 Thomas Quertis 10 x 4-pounder guns 22
30 April 1805 Richard Rabey 10 x 4-pounder guns 25
5 April 1811 Thomas Domaille 6 x 4-pounder guns 14

An American privateer captured London Packet, of Guernsey, Domaille, master, on 19 April 1814, as she was sailing from Valencia to Rio de Janeiro.[6]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Naval Chronicle, Vol. 1, p.301.
  2. ↑ Winfield (2008), p.387.
  3. 1 2 "NMM, vessel ID 370474" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol vii. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  4. ↑ The Times, 21 October 1801, p.2.
  5. ↑ Letter of Marque, p.73 - accessed 25 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Lloyd's List, 13 May 1814.

References

  • Schomberg, Isaac (1815) Naval Chronology: Or An Historical Summary of Naval and Maritime Events... From the Time of the Romans, to the Treaty of Peace of Amiens... (T. Egerton).
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.

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