HMS Coquette (1807) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Queen Mab |
| Ordered | 4 October 1805 |
| Builder | Temple shipbuilders, North Shields |
| Laid down | February 1806 |
| Launched | 25 April 1807 |
| Renamed | HMS Coquette (6 June 1807) |
| Fate | Sold 1817 into mercantile service |
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Coquette (or Coquet) |
| Owner |
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| Acquired | 1817 by purchase |
| Fate | Lost |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Cormorant class ship-sloop; reclassed 1811 as Post ship |
| Type | Quarterdeck ship-sloop |
| Tonnage | 48410⁄94, or 495 bm |
| Length |
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| Beam | 31 ft 1 in (9.47 m) |
| Draught |
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| Depth of hold | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Complement | 121 |
| Armament |
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HMS Coquette was a British warship launched in 1807. She spent her time in the Royal Navy patrolling the English Channel. She also helped protect groups of merchant ships, known as convoys. In 1813, she had an exciting but undecided fight with an American privateer ship. The Navy stopped using Coquette in 1814 and sold her in 1817. After that, she became a whaler, a ship used for hunting whales. She made five long trips to hunt whales before she was lost at sea in 1835 during her sixth voyage.
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About the Talbot Class Ships
Coquette was part of a group of two ships called the Talbot class. Her sister ship was HMS Talbot. These ships were larger versions of another type of warship called the Cormorant-class ship-sloop. In 1811, the Navy changed how they classified Talbot and Coquette. They were then called 20-gun Post ships, which were larger and more powerful than sloops.
Commander Robert Forbes took command of Coquette in June 1807. At the time, she was described as one of the best and largest sloops in the British Navy.
Recapturing Ships and Seizing Vessels
On November 19, 1807, Coquette found and took back an English ship called Amazon. This ship was carrying hemp and had been captured by two French privateers near the Isle of Wight. Coquette sent Amazon to Portsmouth.
Later that year, Russia declared war on Great Britain. Coquette was one of about 70 British ships that helped seize two Russian vessels in Portsmouth harbor. These Russian ships were carrying money for a Russian naval squadron.
On October 23, 1808, Coquette and Daring captured a French privateer ship named Espiegle.
New Commanders and More Captures
Commander Forbes was promoted in October 1810. Commander George Hewson took over command of Coquette in November.
In July 1811, Coquette stopped a ship sailing from Archangel, Russia, and brought it to Leith, Scotland.
On November 16, HMS Chanticleer found a large, empty ship called Haabet near the Dogger Bank. This ship had lost its masts and was full of water. Two days later, Coquette brought Haabet safely to Leith.
Between January and May 1812, Coquette was repaired at Woolwich. Captain Thomas Bradby then took command, followed by Captain John Simpson in May.
When the War of 1812 began, the Royal Navy seized all American ships in British ports. Coquette was among the ships that shared in the value of several American ships seized in Portsmouth in July 1812.
On November 20, Coquette left Portsmouth with a convoy of ships heading to the West Indies.
Battle with an American Privateer
On March 11, 1813, Coquette was near Suriname when she spotted a schooner. Captain Simpson made Coquette look like a merchant ship to trick the schooner into coming closer.
The schooner, which turned out to be an American privateer, opened fire first. It had a powerful 32-pounder gun that could shoot farther than Coquette's guns. Coquette finally got close enough to fight back around 10:30 a.m.
The American schooner had 14 guns, plus the large 32-pounder, and a crew of over 100 men. Both ships fired at each other and were damaged. It looked like the American ship might give up, but instead, it used its oars to escape because the wind was too weak for Coquette to chase it. Coquette had four sailors injured, and two of them sadly passed away later.
The American privateer was General Armstrong. Its captain later said that six of his crew were killed and 16 were injured in the fight.
The Navy placed Coquette in ordinary (meaning she was put out of active service) at Woolwich in 1814. She was offered for sale in January 1817 and was finally sold for £1,090 in April to a person named Mr. Ismay.
Coquette's Whaling Voyages
After being sold by the Navy, Coquette became a whaler. She sailed for different owners over the years. Her first appearance in shipping records was in 1818, listed for voyages from London to the South Seas.
First Whaling Trip (1817–1819)
Captain Joseph Moore began Coquette's first whaling voyage in 1817. She returned on November 7, 1819, carrying 600 large barrels of whale oil.
Second Whaling Trip (1820–1823)
Captain King started the second voyage on June 9, 1820, heading towards Peru. In January 1821, Coquette met another whaling ship, Globe, in the Pacific Ocean. Captain Phillips, the chief mate, reported that Captain King had become ill and returned to London. Phillips then took over as captain.
In August 1821, a group of 10 sailors from Coquette were involved in a conflict on the island of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands. They arrived during a local conflict and were mistaken for enemies. Another British warship, HMS Dauntless, was sent to investigate.
From October 9 to 30, 1822, Coquette was in Honolulu after hunting whales off the coast of Japan. She returned to England on April 18, 1823, with another 600 barrels of whale oil.
Third Whaling Trip (1823–1826)
Captain John Stavers sailed from England on November 2, 1823. Coquette visited the Moluccas in March 1824, the coast of Japan in June and July, and Timor in September.
While Coquette was in Guam in 1825, Captain Stavers had a disagreement with the Spanish governor. Later, Captain Stavers was killed in an unexpected attack. Captain Spencer then took command of the ship.
Coquette returned to England on September 1, 1826, with 550 barrels of whale oil.
Fourth Whaling Trip (1827–1829)
Captain Thornton sailed from England on August 31, 1827. She reached Madeira by September 9. Coquette returned to England on October 19, 1829.
Fifth Whaling Trip (1830–1832)
Captain Thornton sailed again on April 20, 1830, this time heading for the Indian Ocean. On July 3, 1832, Coquette was at Mauritius before sailing back to London. She arrived in London on October 10, 1832.
The Loss of Coquette
Captain Thornton began Coquette's sixth whaling voyage from London on December 12, 1832. This trip was bound for the Pacific Ocean. On January 16, 1834, she was at New Ireland. In February, she was near Bayenwall Island. A newspaper reported in July 1834 that a boat crew from Coquette had been attacked by local people on one of the islands of New Guinea.
Reports from June 1837 stated that Coquette had not been heard from since July 1835. At that time, another whaling ship had seen her off the coast of Japan. Coquette was carrying 1700 barrels of whale oil then. Another report suggested Coquette was lost at Guam on November 4, 1835. The ship's exact fate remained unknown for many years.
