HMS Conway (1814) facts for kids
Conway
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Conway |
| Namesake | Conwy |
| Ordered | 18 January 1813 |
| Builder | John Pelham, Frindsbury |
| Laid down | May 1813 |
| Launched | 10 March 1814 |
| Fate | Sold 1825 |
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Toward Castle |
| Namesake | Castle Toward |
| Owner |
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| Acquired | in 1825 by purchase |
| Fate | Wrecked 1838 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Conway-class sixth-rate post ship |
| Tons burthen | 451, or 45125⁄94, or 45148⁄94, or 452 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 30 ft 9 in (9.4 m) |
| Depth of hold | 9 ft 1 in (2.8 m) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
| Complement | 50 |
| Armament |
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HMS Conway was a British Royal Navy ship launched in 1814. She was a sixth-rate post ship, meaning she was a smaller warship that could carry a certain number of guns. Conway was the first ship of her kind, leading her class.
In 1825, the Royal Navy sold her. She then became a merchant ship named Toward Castle. Later, she was used for whaling, hunting whales for their oil. Sadly, she was lost in 1838 off the coast of Baja California during her third whaling trip.
HMS Conway had an interesting career serving the British Royal Navy. She sailed to many parts of the world.
Early Voyages (1814-1817)
Captain John Tancock took command of Conway in October 1814. In 1815, he sailed her to the West Indies. During this time, Conway and other British ships stopped a vessel called Panther that was sailing from Martinique to Dunkirk.
In 1816, Captain John Reynolds took over from Tancock. Later that year, Captain William Hill became the new commander.
Protecting Trade in the East (1817-1820)
In July 1817, Captain Edward Barnard became the captain. He sailed Conway to the East Indies station. Her main jobs were to protect British trade ships in the Persian Gulf. She also helped stop the slave trade around Île de France.
In October 1819, Conway was at the Cape of Good Hope. A sad event happened there when a boat from Conway overturned. A midshipman and four sailors drowned while trying to help a wrecked ship called Feniscowles. All the people on Feniscowles were rescued.
Conway returned to Plymouth from the East India station in late December 1819. She then sailed to Portsmouth and was taken out of service in January 1820.
South American Adventures (1820-1823)
After some repairs, Conway was ready for sea again in July 1820. In May, Captain Basil Hall took command. He sailed for South America on August 10, 1820. Her journey included stops at Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, and the River Plate.
Captain Hall was ordered to sail to Valparaiso, where Conway arrived around Christmas. In January 1821, Conway sailed to Callao, Peru. At this time, Lord Cochrane was blocking Spanish ports as part of Chile's fight for independence.
Captain Hall met with important leaders in Peru. Once, two of his officers were arrested, suspected of being spies. Hall managed to get them released.
Conway continued her journey, meeting Lord Cochrane on his ship. She returned to Valparaiso, where her officers made important surveys. They also observed a comet, gathering data that helped scientists study its path.
The ship then sailed along the coast, visiting places like Arica and Ylo. At Mollendo, Hall saw locals using rafts made of inflated seal skins. These rafts could cross rough waves that would have flipped Conway's own boats.
Conway returned to Callao. Captain Hall met with General San Martin, a key figure in South American independence. San Martin later declared Peru's independence.
Conway also visited Concepción and Arauco, Chile. She helped protect British interests in the region. She sailed a long distance, about 4,600 miles (7,400 km), from Mocha Island to San Blas, Nayarit. Along the way, she stopped at places like Guayaquil and the Galápagos Islands.
In San Blas, Mexico, Conway took on board a large amount of silver money, over half a million dollars. This money was sent to England to pay for goods for Mexico. Conway sailed for England in June 1822, carrying this valuable cargo. She arrived back in England in the spring of 1823 and was taken out of service.
Selling the Ship (1825)
Conway was kept at Chatham in 1823. The Royal Navy decided to sell her. She was offered for sale in January 1825 and again in October. Mr. Edward Cohen bought her for £2,210.
Toward Castle - A New Life
After being sold by the Royal Navy, Conway was renamed Toward Castle. She began a new life as a merchant ship.
Merchant Ship (1826)
In 1826, Toward Castle was listed in shipping records. Her owner was Smith, and she sailed between London and New South Wales, Australia. She carried various goods, including sheep, rum, wine, and even some cannons.
Whaling Voyages
Toward Castle was later used as a whaler, a ship designed to hunt whales.
First Whaling Trip (1828–1831)
Captain William Darby Brind sailed Toward Castle from England in 1828. Her destination was New Zealand. She was reported at the Bay of Islands and Tongatapu, collecting whale oil. She returned to England in July 1831 with a large amount of whale oil.
Second Whaling Trip (1831–1835)
Captain Brind set sail again in October 1831, once more heading for New Zealand. Toward Castle visited places like the Bay of Islands, Tonga, and Oahu. She returned to England in May 1835, bringing back even more whale oil.
The Ship's Final Journey
Captain Thomas Emmens began Toward Castle's third whaling voyage in October 1835. The ship was at Monterey, California, in November 1837.
Wrecked at Sea (1838)
On January 7, 1838, Toward Castle hit a hidden sandbank. This happened about 50 miles (80 km) north of Cedros Island off Baja California. The crew had to leave the sinking ship in their small boats.
Captain Emmens, his first mate, and five other men managed to reach a mission at Todos los Santos. This was more than 500 miles (800 km) away! From there, they traveled overland to La Paz.
An American ship, Dorotea, took them across the Gulf of California to Mazatlán. The American Consul there helped two American crew members return home. Captain Emmens and the remaining three crew members sailed on an English ship called Vesper.
Sadly, there was no news of the rest of Toward Castle's crew of 30 or 31 men. It was thought that they had been lost at sea. The ship's cargo of 1,800 barrels of whale oil was also lost. The cause of the wreck was a mistake on the ship's English charts, which showed the island in the wrong place.
