HMS Dominica (1805) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Dominica
Acquired	1805 (by purchase)
Captured	21 May 1806 (by mutineers)
France
Name	Napoléon
Acquired	21 May 1806 by capture
Captured	24 May 1806
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Dominica
Acquired	24 May 1806 (by capture)
Fate	Broken up 1808
General characteristics
Tonnage	85 bm
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Schooner or brig
Armament	6 guns

HMS Dominica was a small British ship called a schooner. The British Navy bought her in 1805 in the Leeward Islands. Something surprising happened in 1806: some of her crew took control of the ship and gave it to the French. The French quickly renamed her Napoléon and used her as a privateer.

But just four days later, the British got her back! She returned to serving the British Navy. During her time with the British, she captured about six smaller privateer ships. HMS Dominica was eventually taken apart in 1808.

Early Journeys of HMS Dominica

The British Navy put Lieutenant Robert Peter in charge of Dominica. On August 11, 1805, Dominica captured a small rowboat called Hazard. This happened about two leagues (about 6 miles) off Scotts Head, Dominica. The Hazard had 14 crew members and small weapons. It had been out for three days from Pointe-à-Pitre but hadn't captured any ships. Around the same time, Dominica also captured another schooner.

Later that month, on August 25, Dominica chased a French rowboat privateer for many hours. She finally caught it near Dominica. This privateer was named Ravanche. It had a 12-pounder carronade gun at its front and several swivel guns. It only had 15 men on board. The Ravanche had captured three small ships during its eight weeks out from Guadeloupe.

A week later, on September 2, Dominica captured another rowboat called Prudente. This happened at 8 AM, about five leagues from The Saints. Prudente didn't realize Dominica was a warship and came too close. When they figured it out, they tried to escape. The wind was calm, so Lieutenant Peter sent Midshipman Jackson and eight volunteers in a small boat to capture Prudente. Dominica fired grape and canister at the Prudente. After two hours, Dominica's boat caught the privateer. The enemy surrendered after the British fired some small arms. One British sailor was hurt, breaking his collarbone.

The Crew Takes Control

In 1806, Lieutenant William Dean became the commander of Dominica. On May 21, while Lieutenant Dean was on shore in Roseau collecting important messages, a crew member attacked the ship's master, Richard Osborne. Osborne managed to disarm the attacker. However, other crew members then appeared. They captured Osborne and locked him and other loyal crew members below deck. These crew members, who had taken control, then sailed Dominica overnight to Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.

The crew members who took control told the French that Roseau was not protected. They also said that merchant ships full of sugar were in its port. The French quickly put Dominica into service as a privateer. They renamed her Napoléon and put 73 men on board, including some artillery soldiers. Several of the original crew members who took control also stayed on board. A French general, Hortade, joined them, not in his uniform. On May 23, they sent Napoléon, led by Captain Vincent Gautier, along with another schooner called Impérial, towards Roseau.

Getting Her Back: The Recapture

The very next day, May 24, at Roseau, the leader of Dominica wanted to send a ship to chase Napoléon and the Impériale. These ships had managed to capture a merchant vessel. Captain Dyneley of the packet boat Duke of Montrose was willing to help. However, his ship only had 22 men and boys. So, the President put 26 soldiers from the 46th Regiment of Foot and 13 soldiers from the 3rd West India Regiment on board. Lieutenant Wallis of the 46th Regiment led these soldiers. With these extra men, Duke of Montrose set out to chase the enemy ships.

As Wasp was sailing into Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica, she received a signal from Cygnet, which was anchored there. The signal said that the enemy was in sight. Captain B. Sterling Bluett and Wasp immediately began the chase. Wasp soon captured a small cutter, which turned out to be Napoléon. In her attempt to escape, Napoléon had two men killed. The British had no injuries. By setting out to chase the French privateers, Duke of Montrose had caused Napoléon to change her course. This led her right into the path of Wasp.

Duke of Montrose successfully fought Impérial. They exchanged fire for about 45 minutes. As Cygnet arrived, Impérial surrendered.

Also at Roseau, Lieutenant Hamilton of the 46th Regiment, even though he was ill, gathered a sergeant and 13 men from his regiment. They set out in two boats belonging to merchant ships. They managed to recapture the vessel the French had taken, even though it was several leagues out at sea.

When the British recaptured Dominica, they also found several of the crew members who had taken control of the ship. This included the main leader, William (or Henry) Proctor. He tried to defend himself by saying he was American. He also pointed out that he hadn't hurt anyone and had destroyed all secret signals before giving the ship to the French. However, a special naval court decided he should be punished. Another crew member, the cook Naiad Suarie, was also sentenced to punishment. But he was later pardoned because he was from Martinique and Proctor had forced him to join.

Back in Action: More Adventures

The British quickly put Dominica back into service. In June, Lieutenant Dean took command again in Antigua. On August 18, the "Armed brig Dominica," as Dean called her, captured a French rowboat privateer named Bateuse. This happened between Dominica and Marie-Galante. Bateuse had 19 men. However, she had sent ten of them to Martinique on a small schooner she had captured near Saint Lucia. Bateuse was only armed with small weapons.

Then, on the night of October 2, Mr. King, who was acting as the master, took Dominica's small cutter boat. He managed to take two sloops, the Manette and the Dolphin, from under the shore batteries near Saint-Pierre, Martinique. These two captured ships were carrying valuable cargoes of rum and sugar.

Two days later, Dominica captured the French navy schooner Chiffone. This ship was only armed with small weapons. The French were using her to send messages between Guadeloupe and Martinique.

On November 27, Dominica captured the French lugger-rigged "Tow-boat" Basilisk. This happened to the east of Marie-Galante. She had a crew of 16 men and was armed with one brass 3-pounder gun. She was returning to Pointe-à-Pitre after a three-month trip. During that trip, she had captured three ships.

What Happened Next

HMS Dominica was taken apart in January 1808.