HMS Falcon (1801) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | Diadem |
| Builder | Almon Hill & Sons, Limehouse |
| Launched | 20 October 1798 |
| Fate | Purchased by the Royal Navy in 1801 |
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Diadem |
| Acquired | 28 February 1801 |
| Renamed | HMS Falcon |
| Fate | Sold in 1816 |
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Duke of Wellington |
| Owner | Short & Co. |
| Launched | 1816 by purchase |
| Fate | Wrecked at Batavia 1820 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 14-gun sloop |
| Tons burthen | 36628⁄94 or 368 bm |
| Length | 102 ft 10 in (31.3 m) (overall); 80 ft 8 in (24.6 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 29 ft 3+1⁄2 in (8.9 m) |
| Sail plan | Sloop |
| Complement | 75 |
| Armament |
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The Diadem was a type of sailing ship called a sloop. It was built in 1798. The British Navy bought her in 1801 and changed her name to HMS Falcon. This was done to avoid confusion with another ship already named HMS Diadem.
HMS Falcon served in different parts of the world. She sailed in the North Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. Later, she was involved in the Gunboat War in Danish waters. The Navy sold her in 1816. Her new owner renamed her Duke of Wellington. This ship then sailed to the Indies. Sadly, she was wrecked in 1820 near Batavia.
Contents
Early Years: 1801 to 1806 Missions
Commander James Nash took charge of HMS Falcon in February 1801. On August 14, she helped escort a large merchant ship, the Indian Chief, from St Helena back to the United Kingdom.
In 1802, Commander Henry M. Ommaney became the new captain. He sailed Falcon to Newfoundland. While there, Falcon captured two enemy ships. These were the Caroline on July 17, 1803, and the Mercure on July 28.
Commander George Sanders took command in Newfoundland in February 1804. Falcon was then repaired in Plymouth. After that, she served in the English Channel. She even fired at shore defenses in Le Havre, France. Falcon also helped recapture a sloop named John and Thomas on November 3.
North Sea Operations: Chasing Convoys
Later, Falcon moved to the North Sea. On June 10, 1805, Falcon and other British ships chased a French convoy. They pursued the French ships for nine hours. The French convoy eventually found safety near Fécamp. The French group included two warships and many transport ships. The British ships faced gunfire from shore. Falcon had four sailors wounded and some damage to her sails.
Falcon also helped capture a ship called Zeeluft on June 20, 1805. She also shared in money from the goods of two other captured ships that year.
Battles of 1807: Danzig and Copenhagen
In April 1807, Falcon played a part in the defense of Danzig. This city was under attack by the French. Falcon helped bring more soldiers and a Russian general to the area. Some sailors from Falcon even volunteered to fight on another ship, the Sally. This ship went into shallow waters to fight the French directly.
On August 28, 1807, Falcon and another sloop, HMS Vulture, captured a Danish ship named Martha. They received prize money for this capture almost four years later.
On September 7, Falcon was one of many British ships present at the surrender of Copenhagen. She later shared in the prize money from capturing the Danish fleet.
Danish Waters: 1808 Engagements
Commander George A. Creyke took over Falcon in 1808. On March 22, 1808, Falcon was near the battle of Zealand Point. She watched the battle from a safe distance. Her logbook recorded what happened during the fight.
In late April, Falcon sailed north to look for enemy boats. These boats could carry soldiers from mainland Denmark to the islands of Zealand or Skåne. Falcon destroyed eight large boats on the island of Endelave. She also destroyed six boats on Tunø on April 29. Before May 15, she destroyed 13 more boats between Samsø and Aarhus.
The Danes were building up their defenses near Samsø. On the night of May 7, Falcon sent a small team in boats. They captured two enemy boats. Each boat was loaded with large mortars and 400 mortar shells. One of these boats got stuck and had to be burned. The other boat was destroyed after the mortar was removed. On June 3, Falcon sent her boats to raid Endelave again.
In 1810, Falcon was at Sheerness. She was changed into a military supply ship and a hospital ship. From 1812 onwards, Falcon was kept in storage. On May 14, 1816, the Navy decided to sell many ships. This included the "Falcon sloop, of 368 tons". She was sold on July 31 for £800.
Duke of Wellington: Merchant Ship Life
Short & Co. bought the Diadem in 1816. They renamed her Duke of Wellington. She appeared in Lloyd's Register, a list of ships. It showed her based in London, with Woodcock as master and Short as owner. Her launch year was 1798.
In 1818, Duke of Wellington was listed among ships allowed to trade with the Indies. This was under a special license from the British East India Company. The records show she sailed for Bombay on November 17, 1817. There were some differences in records about her exact trade routes.
Ship's Final Fate
Lloyd's List reported on August 11, 1820, that the Duke of Wellington was wrecked. She had been driven ashore at Batavia by a strong storm in early February 1820. Reports from March 31 said she was going to be sold there. On June 2, 1820, Duke of Wellington was sold at an auction for 8,000 rupees. She was sold to be broken up for parts. The money from the sale went to a charity for orphans.
This article includes data released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported UK: England & Wales Licence, by the National Maritime Museum, as part of the Warship Histories project.
