Hired armed cutter Penelope
Encyclopedia
The Hired armed
cutter Penelope served the Royal Navy
from 29 January 1794 until the Spanish captured her off Gibraltar on 7 July 1799. She was of 187 tons burthen (bm
) and carried sixteen 4-pounder guns.
In April 1797 Penelope was in the West Indies under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Burdwood. On 18 April Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde-Parker ordered Captain Hugh Pigot
to take his frigate , as well as the frigates and , the brig and Penelope to cut out 14 vessels at Jean-Rabel
, Haiti. The squadron rendezvoused on the 19th and then the boat went in on the night of the 20th. They succeeded in bringing out nine vessels, all merchant vessels that French privateers had taken as prizes.
In late November Penelope was still under the command of Burdwood when she captured a small French privateer cutter off the Start, which is some 16 leagues
west of the Isle of Portland
, on th English coast. The privateer had made no captures. This was probably the Maria, for which prize money was payable a year later.
On 24 January 1798, Penelope captured the French privateer cutter Venturer (or Aventurier), ten leagues
off the Start. Venturer was pierced for eight guns but carried only two 3-pounders, plus six swivel gun
s together with small arms. She was three days out of Plempoull
and had not taken any prizes.
Penelope then sailed to the Mediterranean. By this time she was under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Hamline (or Hamlyn). In the Mediterranean she carried despatches. For instance, on 12 May 1799 Admiral Nelson
sent her to Malta with instructions for the British naval forces there and for the Russian admiral, who Nelson also thought was there. Penelope also captured or participated in the capture of the Spanish vessel Gaviota on 11 April.
sent his flag lieutenant, Lieutenant Frederick Maitland, to Penelope, to order her out from Gibraltar to reconnoitre and count a fleet that had been spotted sailing through the Straits and that Jervis believed was French.
When Maitland arrived however, he found that Hamline was sick and unable to take command. Maitland took over and sailed Penelope out. Because of the urgency of the mission, there was not enough time to unload ₤8000 pounds (in dollars) on her that is variously described as pay for the forces in Minorca or cargo from two prizes that Penelope had captured earlier.
At 0400 hours the next morning Penelope was off Ceuta
and Maitland counted 43 ships. (This was Bruix' expedition of 1799 returning to Cadiz.)
The Franco-Spanish fleet sent two frigates and a brig to intercept Penelope. Winds were light so she hoisted French colours as a ruse de guerre and used her sweeps to try to escape her pursuers. Still, the pursuers were gaining so Penelope deployed her boat to help tow her in an attempt to gain distance. Unfortunately, by 0730 hours a breeze had developed enabling the pursuers to get close enough to fire their chase gun
s. Maitland cut his boat loose and told her crew to head for Gibraltar while he tried to sail towards the North African shore.
By about 1130 hours one frigate was close enough to fire a broadside while the brig and the second frigate were still nearby. Maitland was forced to strike his colours. The brig Vigo sent a boat over to accept his surrender, but Maitland dismissed the officer in charge, saying that he had struck to the frigate. She was the 34-gun Nuestra Señora del Carmen and she took possession of Penelope.
had Maitland returned to Gibraltar. Mazeredo had discovered that Maitland was Lord St Vincent's flag lieutenant, and being under an obligation to St Vincent, set Maitland free and returned him to Gibraltar without requesting an exchange. In July Maitland returned to Britain with Admiral Jervis, in the .
Admiral Sir Kieth pursued Bruix
to Brest
but was not able to bring him to action.
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 Penelope served the 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...
from 29 January 1794 until the Spanish captured her off Gibraltar on 7 July 1799. She was of 187 tons burthen (bm
Builder's Old Measurement
Builder's Old Measurement is the method of calculating the size or cargo capacity of a ship used in England from approximately 1720 to 1849. It estimated the tonnage of a ship based on length and maximum beam...
) and carried sixteen 4-pounder guns.
Service
Lieutenant Robert Keen was appointed to command Penelope in 1793 and was promoted to Commander in 1797. On 9 October 1795 Penelope shared with a number of British warships in the recapture of the ship Kent.In April 1797 Penelope was in the West Indies under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Burdwood. On 18 April Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde-Parker ordered Captain Hugh Pigot
Hugh Pigot (Royal Navy captain)
Hugh Pigot was an officer in the Royal Navy. Through his connections and their patronage he was able to rise to the rank of captain, despite apparently poor leadership skills and a reputation for brutality. While he was captain of Hermione he eventually provoked his men to mutiny...
to take his frigate , as well as the frigates and , the brig and Penelope to cut out 14 vessels at Jean-Rabel
Jean-Rabel
Jean-Rabel is a city located west of the city of Port de Paix and east of the city of Mole st Niclas Môle-Saint-Nicolas Arrondissement, in the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti.It has 125,745 inhabitants....
, Haiti. The squadron rendezvoused on the 19th and then the boat went in on the night of the 20th. They succeeded in bringing out nine vessels, all merchant vessels that French privateers had taken as prizes.
In late November Penelope was still under the command of Burdwood when she captured a small French privateer cutter off the Start, which is some 16 leagues
League (unit)
A league is a unit of length . It was long common in Europe and Latin America, but it is no longer an official unit in any nation. The league originally referred to the distance a person or a horse could walk in an hour...
west of the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, on th English coast. The privateer had made no captures. This was probably the Maria, for which prize money was payable a year later.
On 24 January 1798, Penelope captured the French privateer cutter Venturer (or Aventurier), ten leagues
League (unit)
A league is a unit of length . It was long common in Europe and Latin America, but it is no longer an official unit in any nation. The league originally referred to the distance a person or a horse could walk in an hour...
off the Start. Venturer was pierced for eight guns but carried only two 3-pounders, plus six 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 together with small arms. She was three days out of Plempoull
Paimpol
Paimpol is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.It is a tourist destination, especially during the summer months when people are attracted by its port and beaches.-Population:...
and had not taken any prizes.
Penelope then sailed to the Mediterranean. By this time she was under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Hamline (or Hamlyn). In the Mediterranean she carried despatches. For instance, on 12 May 1799 Admiral Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
sent her to Malta with instructions for the British naval forces there and for the Russian admiral, who Nelson also thought was there. Penelope also captured or participated in the capture of the Spanish vessel Gaviota on 11 April.
Capture
On 6 July Admiral JervisJohn Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent
Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent GCB, PC was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom...
sent his flag lieutenant, Lieutenant Frederick Maitland, to Penelope, to order her out from Gibraltar to reconnoitre and count a fleet that had been spotted sailing through the Straits and that Jervis believed was French.
When Maitland arrived however, he found that Hamline was sick and unable to take command. Maitland took over and sailed Penelope out. Because of the urgency of the mission, there was not enough time to unload ₤8000 pounds (in dollars) on her that is variously described as pay for the forces in Minorca or cargo from two prizes that Penelope had captured earlier.
At 0400 hours the next morning Penelope was off Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and Maitland counted 43 ships. (This was Bruix' expedition of 1799 returning to Cadiz.)
The Franco-Spanish fleet sent two frigates and a brig to intercept Penelope. Winds were light so she hoisted French colours as a ruse de guerre and used her sweeps to try to escape her pursuers. Still, the pursuers were gaining so Penelope deployed her boat to help tow her in an attempt to gain distance. Unfortunately, by 0730 hours a breeze had developed enabling the pursuers to get close enough to fire their chase gun
Chase gun
The chase guns, usually distinguished as bow chasers and stern chasers were cannons mounted in the bow or stern of a sailing ship...
s. Maitland cut his boat loose and told her crew to head for Gibraltar while he tried to sail towards the North African shore.
By about 1130 hours one frigate was close enough to fire a broadside while the brig and the second frigate were still nearby. Maitland was forced to strike his colours. The brig Vigo sent a boat over to accept his surrender, but Maitland dismissed the officer in charge, saying that he had struck to the frigate. She was the 34-gun Nuestra Señora del Carmen and she took possession of Penelope.
Post-script
After the Spanish fleet left Cadiz, Admiral MazarredoJose de Mazarredo y Salazar
Don Jose de Mazarredo y Salazar de Muñatones Cortázar Order of Santiago was a Spanish Basque naval commander, cartographer, ambassador, astronomer and professor of naval tactics...
had Maitland returned to Gibraltar. Mazeredo had discovered that Maitland was Lord St Vincent's flag lieutenant, and being under an obligation to St Vincent, set Maitland free and returned him to Gibraltar without requesting an exchange. In July Maitland returned to Britain with Admiral Jervis, in the .
Admiral Sir Kieth pursued Bruix
Étienne Eustache Bruix
Étienne Eustache Bruix was a French sailor.-Life:From a distinguished family originating from Béarn, he embarked as a volunteer on a slaving vessel commanded by captain Jean-François Landolphe...
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...
but was not able to bring him to action.