HMS Active (1758) facts for kids
Active (right) engaging the Spanish frigate Hermione (centre) in 1762: sketch by Richard Wright
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
|
| Name | HMS Active |
| Ordered | 6 May 1757 |
| Builder | Thomas Stanton, Rotherhithe |
| Laid down | 13 June 1757 |
| Launched | 11 January 1758 |
| Completed | 2 March 1758 at Deptford Dockyard |
| Commissioned | January 1758 |
| Fate | Taken by the French off San Domingo 1 September 1778 |
 France |
|
| Name | Active |
| Acquired | 1778 by capture |
| Fate | Broken up 1795 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 28-gun Coventry-class sixth-rate frigate |
| Displacement | 850 tons (French) |
| Tons burthen | 594 87⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 33 ft 10+1⁄2 in (10.3 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
|
HMS Active was a fast, 28-gun sailing ship called a frigate. She was part of the Royal Navy (Britain's navy) and was launched in 1758.
Active became famous for helping to capture a Spanish ship called Hermione. This Spanish ship was carrying a huge amount of gold and silver. The money from this capture was the largest amount of prize money ever given to the crew of a British warship!
Later, in 1778, Active was caught in a big storm. Two French frigates then captured her. The French Navy took her into their service, keeping her name as Active. She was eventually taken apart in 1795.
Contents
Building the Active
Active was made from oak wood. She was one of 18 ships built in the Coventry class of frigates. These ships were designed by a naval architect named Sir Thomas Slade. He based their design on another successful ship, Tartar|1756|6.
The Royal Navy ordered Active to be built on May 23, 1757. The builders were told to finish her within nine months. Her main frame was laid down on June 13, 1757. The work went quickly, and she was launched earlier than planned on January 11, 1758.
When built, Active was about 36 meters (118 feet) long. She cost about £6,229 to build. This was a lot of money back then!
In early 1758, Active sailed to Deptford Dockyard. Here, she received her guns and supplies. She also took on her crew of 200 officers and sailors. Her main guns were 24 nine-pounder cannons. She also had smaller cannons and swivel guns (small guns that could turn all around).
Active in British Service
The Seven Years' War
Active began her service in January 1758. This was during the early part of the Seven Years' War against France. Her first commander was Captain Richard Hughes.
She joined a British fleet led by Commodore Richard Howe. Their job was to attack French ports and ships. Active helped in attacks on St Malo and Cherbourg in 1758. She was also at the Battle of Saint Cast, though that landing was not successful for the British.
Captain Hughes left in December 1758. Captain Herbert Sawyer took over in 1759. Active then joined Admiral Edward Boscawen's fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. She helped in the British victory at the Battle of Lagos in August 1759.
In December 1759, Active returned to England. She was escorting ships carrying cannons from French vessels that had been wrecked. The journey was very stormy. Active even lost one of her masts in bad weather near Plymouth.
Capturing the Hermione
Active had a very exciting moment on May 31, 1762. She was sailing with another British ship, Favourite|1757|6. They chased and captured the Spanish treasure ship Hermione near Cape St Mary.
Hermione was sailing from Lima to Cadiz. She was loaded with dollars, gold coins, ingots of gold and silver, and other valuable goods. Her crew did not know that war had started between Spain and Britain. So, they quickly gave up when the British ships attacked.
Active, Favourite, and another ship, Neptune|1757|6, then took Hermione and her treasure to London.
The treasure on Hermione was worth a huge amount of money. It was valued at about £519,705. This was the biggest single capture of wealth during the entire Seven Years' War! The captains of Active and Favourite each received £64,872 as prize money. This was an incredible sum. Even ordinary sailors on both ships received £480 each. This was like 33 years of their normal pay! One sailor even bought a gold watch and then melted it in a frying pan just for fun.
Later British Service
In early 1763, the war was ending. Active was no longer needed as much. She was sent to Deptford Dockyard to be taken out of service.
After some months, she returned to sea in August 1763. Under Captain Robert Carkett, she sailed to the Royal Navy's Jamaica station. She stayed there for four years. The tropical waters were hard on the ship. She returned to Sheerness Dockyard and was taken out of service again.
In 1770, a check found Active in poor condition. She needed major repairs. These repairs took over 18 months and cost £9,820. This was even more than it cost to build her!
She was ready for service again in March 1771. Captain William Peere Williams took command. She sailed to the West Indies and then to the British Leeward Islands in 1772.
Captain Williams became ill in 1773. Active was sent to Newfoundland, which was thought to be a healthier place. But Captain Williams did not get better. He left Active and returned to England.
No new commander was assigned to Active for a while. In 1774, she returned to Portsmouth Dockyard and was taken out of service for a third time. She returned to active duty in October 1775 under a different Captain William Williams. In February 1776, she sailed to North America. When war with France started again in 1777, Active was sent back to the Jamaica Station. Her job was to protect British trading ships.
Capture by the French
In August 1778, Active was in the Caribbean Sea. A powerful hurricane hit her and broke her masts. The crew had to throw 11 of her guns overboard to make the ship lighter. This helped stop her from flipping over in the storm.
On September 1, she met two French frigates, Charmante and Dédaigneuse. They were escorting other ships near San Domingo. Captain Williams fired two rounds of cannon fire. Then, he lowered Active's flag, which meant surrendering. It is said that Captain Williams was so upset about surrendering that he died soon after.
Active in French Service
The French Navy took Active into their service. They kept her name as Active. In November 1789, she was stationed at Martinique.
In April 1790, Active sailed to Lorient in France. She was carrying French troops back home from Martinique. These troops had revolted after news of the fall of the Bastille reached the island.
Active was declared too old or damaged in November 1794 at Brest. She was then taken apart in 1795.
Images for kids
-
Active (right) engaging the Spanish frigate Hermione (centre) in 1762: sketch by Richard Wright
-
The docks at Rotherhithe, where Active was built in 1757–58.
