HMS Comus (1806) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Comus |
| Ordered | 30 January 1805 |
| Builder | Custance & Co, Great Yarmouth |
| Laid down | August 1805 |
| Launched | 28 August 1806 |
| Completed | By 19 November 1806 |
| Honours and awards |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp: "Comus 15 Augt. 1807" |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 22-gun Laurel-class sixth-rate post ship |
| Tons burthen | 52236⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 31 ft 6+3⁄4 in (9.6 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 3 in (3.1 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 155 |
| Armament |
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HMS Comus was a 22-gun post ship of the Royal Navy. She was a type of warship called a sixth-rate ship. Launched in 1806, Comus had an exciting career. She fought in a famous single-ship action and helped capture Copenhagen in 1807. Later, she spent six months in West Africa. There, she worked to stop the slave trade, freeing many people. Sadly, she was wrecked in 1816, but thankfully, no lives were lost.
Contents
Early Adventures in the Canaries
Comus began her service in October 1806. Her first captain was Conway Shipley. In 1807, her smaller boats carried out daring "cutting-out" missions. This meant they would sneak into enemy harbors to capture ships.
Capturing Spanish Ships
On March 15, 1807, Comus's boats, led by Lieutenant George Edward Watts, entered a harbor in Grand Canaria. The harbor was protected by three shore batteries. Despite the danger, the British managed to capture six Spanish ships. Some of these ships were carrying valuable goods like salt pork and wine. The British had only one officer wounded during this brave mission. That same month, Comus also captured two more Spanish ships, the St Philip and the Nostra Senora de los Remedies.
On May 8, Comus's boats returned to Gran Canaria. This time, they aimed for a large armed felucca (a type of sailing boat). The harbor was heavily defended by a fort and two shore batteries. Lieutenant Watts led the boarding party onto the felucca. The Spanish crew tried to stop them by removing the felucca's rudder and sails. But the British cut the ropes holding the ship and pulled it out under enemy fire. This captured felucca was the San Pedro de Apostol, a packet ship carrying goods.
The British lost one sailor and had five wounded, including Lieutenant Watts. The Spanish lost their captain and some crew, with 21 taken prisoner. Lieutenant Watts was given a special sword for his bravery. The crew also received a lot of prize money from these captures. In May, Comus captured two more Spanish vessels: the St Francisco and the schooner Louisa.
Comus vs. Danish Frigate Fridericksværn
In July 1807, Captain Edward Heywood took command of Comus. In August, she joined a large British fleet heading to Copenhagen. During this time, Comus fought a famous battle against a Danish warship.
The Chase and Battle
On August 12, 1807, a 32-gun Danish frigate named Fridericksværn sailed from Elsinor towards Norway. Even though war had not officially started, Admiral Lord Gambier sent two British ships, HMS Defence and Comus, to chase her. Comus was faster in the light winds and quickly pulled ahead of Defence.
On August 14, Comus spotted Fridericksværn and began the chase. Just before midnight on August 15, Comus caught up near Marstrand. Captain Heywood ordered the Danish ship to stop. Since war had not been declared, Fridericksværn ignored the order. Heywood fired a warning shot, and the Danish ship fired back. Comus then fired a full broadside (all the guns on one side).
The battle lasted 45 minutes. Comus damaged Fridericksværn's sails and ropes. The two ships then came close enough for a boarding party from Comus to climb onto the Danish ship and capture it.
Battle Details and Aftermath
The two ships were quite evenly matched in firepower. Comuss guns could fire 204 pounds of cannonballs at once, while Fridericksværns could fire 200 pounds. However, the Danish ship had more crew (226 men) than Comus (145 men). Despite this, the British had only one man wounded. The Danes suffered 12 killed and 20 wounded.
The Royal Navy took the captured Danish ship into service, renaming her HMS Frederickscoarn. Years later, in 1847, a special medal called the Naval General Service Medal was given to all surviving sailors who fought in this action.
After the battle, Comus helped search for another Danish warship. On August 18, Comus captured a Danish merchant ship called Haabet.
Comus also played a part in the capture of Copenhagen on September 7. She shared in the prize money from that event. She also helped recapture a British ship called Britannia. Over the next few weeks, Comus captured several more Danish merchant vessels, sharing the prize money with other British warships.
Later Service and Anti-Slavery Patrols
Captain Josceline Percy took command of Comus in November 1807. She sailed to Portugal and helped in the British takeover of Madeira. Her job was to scout the island before the British took control without a fight.
Mediterranean and Atlantic Duties
In 1808, Captain Matthew Smith became Comus's commander. She continued to patrol off the coast of Portugal and in the Mediterranean Sea. On February 5, she captured several Danish ships in Setubal, Portugal. The prize money from these captures was very large, even for an ordinary sailor. For example, a regular sailor could earn about two years' wages from just one of these captures!
On February 27, 1808, Comus captured an American ship called Fame.
In February 1811, Comus was part of a group of warships helping to land British and Spanish troops in Spain. Bad weather prevented the landing, so the troops had to march instead.
On May 10, 1812, Captain Smith signed a trade agreement for the British government with the ruler of Tripoli.
In May 1813, Comus captured another American ship, the Jane Barnes.
Later, Comus was involved in transporting French money collected by Nathan Rothschild. She helped deliver a large sum of money to France.
Fighting the Slave Trade
From November 1814, Captain John Tailour commanded Comus. She joined the West Africa Squadron, a group of ships whose job was to stop the slave trade. During this time, Comus captured eleven slave ships.
On March 16, 1815, Comus captured the Portuguese slave ship Dos Amigos off the Old Calabar River.
On March 25, Comus was at Duke Town. There, she captured two Spanish slave ships, Nuestra Senora del Carmen (with 120 enslaved people) and Intrepida (with 245 enslaved people). She also captured the brig Catalina. Among those freed were many boys and girls. Comus also captured two Portuguese ships, Bon Sorte and Estrella, which were carrying enslaved people.
Comus captured two more Portuguese ships: the Santa Anna on April 3 and the Maria Madelena on April 23.
Comus was likely the first warship to sail far up the Calabar River. Her boats captured seven Portuguese and Spanish slave ships, freeing about 550 enslaved people. The slave traders fought back, leading to some bloodshed.
In June, Comus captured the Portuguese ship Novo Fragantina. Then, on July 15, she captured the Portuguese Abismo and the Spanish Palafox.
Captain Thomas Tucker and then Captain James Gordon Bremer later commanded Comus in 1816.
The Fate of HMS Comus
Comus was wrecked at St Mary's Bay, off Cape Pine, Newfoundland, on October 24, 1816. Around midnight, she ran aground and began to leak. The crew had to leave the ship around 3 AM as the tide went out, and she threatened to tip over.
Later attempts to get her off the rocks failed. The wreck was finally abandoned on November 4, 1816. A naval court later investigated the wreck. They blamed a strong current that pushed the ship closer to shore than Captain Bremer had realized. However, the court also warned Captain Bremer and the ship's master to be more careful in the future. They found that the officers had been too confident in their navigation and had not checked the water depth often enough.
Despite the error, the court praised Captain Bremer, his officers, and his crew. They were commended for their hard work in trying to save the ship and for their calm and steady behavior during the whole difficult event.
