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HMS Minerva (1780)
Encyclopedia
HMS Minerva was a 38-gun fifth-rate
Royal Navy
frigate. The first of four Minerva-class frigates
, she was launched on 3 June 1780, and commissioned soon thereafter. In 1798 she was renamed Pallas and employed as a troopship. She was broken up in 1803.
On 11 April 1781, Minerva was serving with Vice-Admiral Darby's Channel Fleet off Cape St Vincent when the British spotted three vessels. Darby sent , , and Minerva in pursuit, but the three vessels, which turned out to be enemy frigates, made it safely to Cadiz. Some time thereafter vessels of the Fleet made attacks on some gunboats, during which Minerva had some men badly wounded. Minerva was among the many ships of Darby's Fleet that shared in the prize money for the capture of Duc de Chartres, the Spanish frigate Santa Leocadia, and the French brig Trois Amis. On 9 October 1781, Minerva, Monsieur
, Flora and Crocodile captured the American privateer Hercules. The next day Minerva and Monsieur captured the American privateer Jason.
In early 1782 Captain the Honourable Thomas Pakenham
assumed command of Minerva. On 11 March 1782, Minerva and captured the brig Pearl off Oporto.
On 28 October Minerva was among the British ships that shared in the capture of the Dutch East Indiaman Young Susanna, off Ceylon.
Minerva was present at the action off Cuddalore
on 20 June 1783, but as a transport she was not involved in the fighting. As a storeship she was transporting military stores and provisions in support of the British army which was planning to attack Cuddalore.
Recommissioned in 1790 under Captain Robert Sutton
, she sailed for the East Indies
on 27 December. In the beginning of November, 1791, Minerva, Commodore William Cornwallis
, accompanied by the 36-gun frigate Phoenix
, Captain Sir Richard Strachan
, and , Captain Isaac Smith, was in the road at Tellicherry
, a fort and anchorage situated a few leagues to the southward of Mangalore
. Phoenix was ordered to stop and search the French frigate Résolue
, which was escorting a number of merchant ships believed to be carrying military supplies to support Tippu Sultan. The Résolue resisted the Phoenix and a brief fight ensued before the Résolue struck her colours. The French captain insisted on considering his ship as a British prize, so Cornwallis ordered Strachan to tow her into Mahé and return her to the French commodore.
In 1793, Captain J. Whitby took command of Minerva, which was flying Rear Admiral Cornwallis's flag. From 1 August 1793, together with three East Indiamen — Triton, Warley
, and Queen Charlotte — Minerva blockaded the Port of Pondicherry while the army besieged the fort. The governor initially refused to surrender, so on 20 August the British began a bombardment. The governor surrendered the town on 23 August. During the siege, Minerva, with the admiral on board, chased off the French frigate Sybile, which had attempted to reach the town. Sybille had had 150 artillerymen on board so chasing her off was helpful to the siege. The British vessels also captured from the islands.
Minerva returned to Britain and was paid off in April 1794. In July 1795, Captain Thomas Peyton recommissioned her for service in Strachan's squadron, which was attached to the main British fleet. On 27 September 1796 Minerva was in company with the hired armed
cutter Lady Jane when they captured two Spanish vessels, the Santa Francisco Xavier and the Nostra Senora de la Miserecordia.
On 13 November 1796, Minerva and Melampus
, encountered the french corvette Etonnant off Barfleur
and drove her ashore. Etonnant carried eighteen 18-pounders and was a new vessel on her first cruise. She was carrying naval and military stores from Havre to Brest
.
On 19 April 1797, the hired armed cutter Grand Falconer with Diamond, Minerva, Cynthia
and Camilla
in company, captured the American ship Favourite. Later that month, Diamond and Minerva grounded near Cape Barfleur
and both had to be docked for repairs when they returned to port.
and renamed her Pallas. , the lead ship of the Pallas-class frigates
, had just been wrecked, freeing the name. Captain John Mackellar recommissioned Pallas in February 1798.
In May 1798, Pallas (though still known as Minerva in the dispatches) participated in the army's expedition to Ostend
. The British force landed troops to destroy the locks and sluice gates on the Bruges
canal to prevent the French from moving gunboats and transports from Flushing
to Ostend and Dunkirk for an invasion of Britain. Although the British succeeded in damaging the sluice gates, the damage was temporary, and the evacuation of the troops failed due to bad weather. During the debacle the French captured Mackellar and his boat crew.
Commander Joseph Edmunds took over as captain in July. On 20 May 1800, Pallas was in the squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, off Genoa. Keith was blockading and bombarding Genoa when he decided to send in boats under the cover of the bombardment to try to cut-out some armed French vessels. At 1am on the 21st the boats succeeded in boarding, carrying, and bringing off the largest galley, the Prima . She had fifty oars and a crew of 257 men, and was under the command of Captain Patrizio Galleano. She was armed with two brass 36-pounder guns and had 30 brass swivel gun
s stored below deck, together with a large quantity of side arms and small arms. The British suffered only four men wounded, one of whom was from Pallas.
Then on 30 May, Pallas recaptured the English (Minorcan) tartane
Rosario, which was sailing from Leghorn
to Minorca, in ballast. Two days later Pallas captured a Ragusan
ship sailing from Leghorn to Barcelona with a cargo of sundries. On 7 June Pallas captured the Ardita off the coast of Italy. Amongst other cargo she was carrying statuary.
From 8 August 1801, Pallas was involved in transporting a portion of the British Army under General Coote from Cairo to the west of Alexandria. The Siege of Alexandria
ended on 30 August with the capitulation of Alexandria
.
. She was broken up at Chatham in March 1803.
Fifth-rate
In Britain's Royal Navy during the classic age of fighting sail, a fifth rate was the penultimate class of warships in a hierarchal system of six "ratings" based on size and firepower.-Rating:...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
frigate. The first of four Minerva-class frigates
Minerva class frigate
The Minerva class sailing frigates were a series of four ships built to a 1778 design by Sir Edward Hunt, which served in the Royal Navy during the latter decades of the eighteenth century....
, she was launched on 3 June 1780, and commissioned soon thereafter. In 1798 she was renamed Pallas and employed as a troopship. She was broken up in 1803.
Service as HMS Minerva
At some point in 1780, Minerva, under the command of Captain Charles Fielding, captured the French brig Jupiter. Between 24 and 27 December 1780, Minerva captured the Thomas en Jank, the Yonge Frone Teglaar, and the Zeepost.On 11 April 1781, Minerva was serving with Vice-Admiral Darby's Channel Fleet off Cape St Vincent when the British spotted three vessels. Darby sent , , and Minerva in pursuit, but the three vessels, which turned out to be enemy frigates, made it safely to Cadiz. Some time thereafter vessels of the Fleet made attacks on some gunboats, during which Minerva had some men badly wounded. Minerva was among the many ships of Darby's Fleet that shared in the prize money for the capture of Duc de Chartres, the Spanish frigate Santa Leocadia, and the French brig Trois Amis. On 9 October 1781, Minerva, Monsieur
HMS Monsieur (1780)
HMS Monsieur was the former 40-gun French privateer Monsieur, built at Le Havre between July 1778 and 1779, then armed at Granville. The Royal Navy captured her in 1780 and subsequently put her into service as a 36-gun Fifth Rate. This frigate was sold in 1783.-Privateer:On 28 March 1779, Monsieur...
, Flora and Crocodile captured the American privateer Hercules. The next day Minerva and Monsieur captured the American privateer Jason.
In early 1782 Captain the Honourable Thomas Pakenham
Thomas Pakenham
Thomas Francis Dermot Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford , known simply as Thomas Pakenham, is an Irish historian and arborist who has written several prize-winning books on the diverse subjects of Victorian and post-Victorian British history and trees...
assumed command of Minerva. On 11 March 1782, Minerva and captured the brig Pearl off Oporto.
On 28 October Minerva was among the British ships that shared in the capture of the Dutch East Indiaman Young Susanna, off Ceylon.
Minerva was present at the action off Cuddalore
Cuddalore
Cuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.Cuddalore is known...
on 20 June 1783, but as a transport she was not involved in the fighting. As a storeship she was transporting military stores and provisions in support of the British army which was planning to attack Cuddalore.
Recommissioned in 1790 under Captain Robert Sutton
Robert Sutton
Robert Sutton may refer to:*Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexinton , Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1625 and again in 1640*Robert Sutton, 2nd Baron Lexinton , English diplomat...
, she sailed for the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
on 27 December. In the beginning of November, 1791, Minerva, Commodore William Cornwallis
William Cornwallis
Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
, accompanied by the 36-gun frigate Phoenix
HMS Phoenix (1783)
HMS Phoenix was a 36-gun Perseverance-class fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. The shipbuilder George Parsons built her at Bursledon and launched her on 15 July 1783. She served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was instrumental in the events leading up to the battle of Trafalgar...
, Captain Sir Richard Strachan
Sir Richard Strachan, 6th Baronet
Sir Richard John Strachan, 6th Baronet GCB was a British officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral.-Childhood:...
, and , Captain Isaac Smith, was in the road at Tellicherry
Thalassery
Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
, a fort and anchorage situated a few leagues to the southward of Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
. Phoenix was ordered to stop and search the French frigate Résolue
French frigate Résolue (1778)
Résolue was an Iphigénie-class 32-gun frigate of the French Navy.-French service:On 19 March 1779, Résolue captured a British fort in Senegal....
, which was escorting a number of merchant ships believed to be carrying military supplies to support Tippu Sultan. The Résolue resisted the Phoenix and a brief fight ensued before the Résolue struck her colours. The French captain insisted on considering his ship as a British prize, so Cornwallis ordered Strachan to tow her into Mahé and return her to the French commodore.
In 1793, Captain J. Whitby took command of Minerva, which was flying Rear Admiral Cornwallis's flag. From 1 August 1793, together with three East Indiamen — Triton, Warley
HMS Calcutta (1795)
HMS Calcutta was an East Indiaman converted to a Royal Navy 56-gun fourth rate. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia in a voyage that became a circumnavigation of the world. The French 74-gun Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805...
, and Queen Charlotte — Minerva blockaded the Port of Pondicherry while the army besieged the fort. The governor initially refused to surrender, so on 20 August the British began a bombardment. The governor surrendered the town on 23 August. During the siege, Minerva, with the admiral on board, chased off the French frigate Sybile, which had attempted to reach the town. Sybille had had 150 artillerymen on board so chasing her off was helpful to the siege. The British vessels also captured from the islands.
Minerva returned to Britain and was paid off in April 1794. In July 1795, Captain Thomas Peyton recommissioned her for service in Strachan's squadron, which was attached to the main British fleet. On 27 September 1796 Minerva was in company with the hired armed
Hired armed vessels
right|thumb|250px|Armed cutter, etching in the [[National Maritime Museum]], [[Greenwich]]During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Royal Navy made use of a considerable number of hired armed vessels...
cutter Lady Jane when they captured two Spanish vessels, the Santa Francisco Xavier and the Nostra Senora de la Miserecordia.
On 13 November 1796, Minerva and Melampus
HMS Melampus (1785)
HMS Melampus was a Royal Navy fifth-rate frigate that served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. She captured numerous prizes before she was sold in 1815.-Design and construction:...
, encountered the french corvette Etonnant off Barfleur
Barfleur
Barfleur is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France.-Middle Ages:In the Middle Ages Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England....
and drove her ashore. Etonnant carried eighteen 18-pounders and was a new vessel on her first cruise. She was carrying naval and military stores from Havre to Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
.
On 19 April 1797, the hired armed cutter Grand Falconer with Diamond, Minerva, Cynthia
HMS Cynthia (1796)
HMS Cynthia was a ship sloop of unusual design, launched in 1796. She took part in one medal-worthy boat action and participated in captures of a number of merchant vessels, was present at two notable occasions, the surrender of the Dutch fleet in the Vlieter Incident and the capture of Alexandria,...
and Camilla
HMS Camilla (1776)
HMS Camilla was a Royal Navy 20-gun Sphinx-class post ship. Camilla was built in Chatham Dockyard to a design by John Williams and launched in 1776...
in company, captured the American ship Favourite. Later that month, Diamond and Minerva grounded near Cape Barfleur
Barfleur
Barfleur is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France.-Middle Ages:In the Middle Ages Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England....
and both had to be docked for repairs when they returned to port.
Service as troopship HMS Pallas
Between July 1797 and May 1798, the Admiralty converted Minerva into a troopship armed en flûteEn flûte
Arming a ship en flûte means removing some or all of the artillery. Since ships have a limited amount of cargo space, they may be armed en flûte to make room for other cargo, such as troops and ammunition...
and renamed her Pallas. , the lead ship of the Pallas-class frigates
Pallas class frigate
The Pallas class sailing frigates were a series of three ships built to a 1791 design by John Henslow, which served in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
, had just been wrecked, freeing the name. Captain John Mackellar recommissioned Pallas in February 1798.
In May 1798, Pallas (though still known as Minerva in the dispatches) participated in the army's expedition to Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
. The British force landed troops to destroy the locks and sluice gates on the Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
canal to prevent the French from moving gunboats and transports from Flushing
Flushing, Netherlands
Vlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
to Ostend and Dunkirk for an invasion of Britain. Although the British succeeded in damaging the sluice gates, the damage was temporary, and the evacuation of the troops failed due to bad weather. During the debacle the French captured Mackellar and his boat crew.
Commander Joseph Edmunds took over as captain in July. On 20 May 1800, Pallas was in the squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, off Genoa. Keith was blockading and bombarding Genoa when he decided to send in boats under the cover of the bombardment to try to cut-out some armed French vessels. At 1am on the 21st the boats succeeded in boarding, carrying, and bringing off the largest galley, the Prima . She had fifty oars and a crew of 257 men, and was under the command of Captain Patrizio Galleano. She was armed with two brass 36-pounder guns and had 30 brass swivel gun
Swivel gun
The term swivel gun usually refers to a small cannon, mounted on a swiveling stand or fork which allows a very wide arc of movement. Another type of firearm referred to as a swivel gun was an early flintlock combination gun with two barrels that rotated along their axes to allow the shooter to...
s stored below deck, together with a large quantity of side arms and small arms. The British suffered only four men wounded, one of whom was from Pallas.
Then on 30 May, Pallas recaptured the English (Minorcan) tartane
Tartane
A Tartane or tartan was a small ship used both as a fishing ship and for coastal trading in the Mediterranean. They were in use for over 300 years until the late 19th century. A tartane had a single mast on which was rigged a large lateen sail, and with a bowsprit and fore-sail. When the wind was...
Rosario, which was sailing from Leghorn
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
to Minorca, in ballast. Two days later Pallas captured a Ragusan
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
ship sailing from Leghorn to Barcelona with a cargo of sundries. On 7 June Pallas captured the Ardita off the coast of Italy. Amongst other cargo she was carrying statuary.
From 8 August 1801, Pallas was involved in transporting a portion of the British Army under General Coote from Cairo to the west of Alexandria. The Siege of Alexandria
Siege of Alexandria
The Siege of Alexandria was fought between 17 August and 2 September 1801, during the French Revolutionary Wars, between French and British forces and was the last action of the Egyptian Campaign. The French garrison at Alexandria surrendered on 2nd September...
ended on 30 August with the capitulation of Alexandria
Capitulation of Alexandria (1801)
The Capitulation of Alexandria in August 1801 brought to an end the French expedition to Egypt.French troops, defeated by British and Ottoman forces, had retreated to Alexandria where they were besieged...
.
Fate
Pallas was paid off in May 1802 and put in ordinaryReserve fleet
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....
. She was broken up at Chatham in March 1803.