HMS Daphne (1806) facts for kids
Daphne
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Daphne |
| Ordered | 30 January 1805 |
| Builder | Robert Davy, Topsham |
| Laid down | July 1805 |
| Fate | Sold 15 February 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Banterer-class post ship |
| Tons burthen | 53932⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 32 ft 0+1⁄2 in (9.8 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 155 |
| Armament |
|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Daphne |
| Owner | Blanshard & Co. |
| Acquired | 1816 by purchase |
| Fate | Last listed 1824 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 553, or 554 (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
HMS Daphne was a British Royal Navy ship launched in 1806. She was built in Topsham, England. During her time with the navy, Daphne mostly served in the Baltic Sea. There, she took part in a daring mission to capture enemy ships and also caught a small privateer (a privately owned ship allowed to attack enemy vessels). She also captured many small Danish merchant ships. After the Napoleonic Wars ended, the navy sold her in 1816. She then became a merchant ship, keeping the name Daphne. In 1819, she made a trip to Australia, carrying convicts (people sent away as punishment). After that, she traded with India. She was last mentioned in records in 1824.
Contents
First Missions and South America
Captain Francis Mason took command of Daphne in July 1806. He sailed her to the River Plate in South America. There, she joined a difficult mission led by Commodore Home Riggs Popham to capture Buenos Aires. On January 6, 1807, Daphne helped capture a ship named Ann. Later, during the capture of Montevideo on February 3, 1807, one of Daphne's crew members was slightly hurt. The ship returned to England in December 1807.
Fighting in the Baltic Sea
After returning home, Daphne served in the Baltic Sea during the Gunboat War. This was a conflict between Britain and Denmark-Norway. On April 23, 1808, small boats from Daphne and Tartarus attacked a Dano-Norwegian convoy. This convoy was carrying important food supplies to Norway, which was facing shortages due to a British blockade.
Daring Attack at Flodstrand
The British sailors bravely went ashore under heavy fire from the coast and a nearby castle. They managed to capture five large sailing ships, three smaller ones, a schooner, and a sloop. These captured vessels totaled about 870 tons. The British lost only five men wounded in this daring mission. Four of these men were from Daphne. Later, a large sum of money was paid out as prize money for these captured ships.
Capturing Danish Vessels
Daphne continued to be active in the Baltic. On May 20, 1808, Daphne and Tartarus captured a Danish ship called Fisken. In August, Daphne captured the Danish naval schooner Acutif. This schooner had eight guns and tried to escape for six hours before giving up.
Captain William Roberts took over command in August 1808. Daphne and Ariadne captured another Danish vessel on August 30. Later, Captain Philip Pipon replaced Roberts. Daphne continued to capture various Danish merchant ships over the next few years, including Good Hofnung and Pluto in 1810.
In March 1813, Captain James Green became the commander. Daphne then served as the main ship for Rear-Admiral Sir George Hope in the Baltic.
After a busy naval career, Daphne was offered for sale on January 11, 1816. She was described as a 22-gun ship weighing 540 tons. Daphne was sold on February 15, 1816, for £2,300.
Daphne's Life as a Merchant Ship
Voyage to Australia with Convicts
After being sold, Daphne became a merchant ship. She was owned by Blanshard & Co. and traded between London and Île de France. In 1819, Daphne made an important voyage. Captain Hugh Mattison sailed her from Cork, Ireland, to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This trip was to transport convicts (people who had committed crimes and were sent to Australia as punishment).
Daphne stopped in Teneriffe along the way. She arrived in Sydney on September 21, 1819, after a journey of 116 days. She had started with about 180 male prisoners, and 178 of them arrived safely in Sydney. Soldiers from different regiments provided the guard for the prisoners. After dropping off the convicts, Daphne sailed from Port Jackson (Sydney) to Bengal, India.
Trading in India
Daphnes trade routes changed to London–India or London–Madras. In mid-1821, while sailing to Madras, Daphne met another merchant ship called Blenden Hall. The captains visited each other, and Daphnes captain enjoyed a "Most excellent dinner." Interestingly, Blenden Hall was later wrecked, leaving its passengers stranded for about six months.
In May 1822, Daphne, now under Captain Arthur A. Chatfield, sailed to Madras again. On her way, she passed through the "Collomandous Channel" in the Maldives. This showed that even though the channel was narrow, ships could sail through it.
In August 1823, a report mentioned that Daphne was sailing from Batavia (now Jakarta) to Cowes. She had been damaged by a strong gale (storm) off the Cape of Good Hope that lasted 32 days.
Daphne was last listed in shipping records in 1823 and 1824.
