HMS Garland (1800) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 France |
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| Name | Mars |
| Builder | Bordeaux |
| Launched | 1798, or 1799, |
| Captured | 31 March 1800 |
 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Garland |
| Acquired | 31 March 1800 by capture |
| Fate | Wrecked 10 November 1803 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sixth-rate post ship |
| Tonnage | 52911⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 31 ft 5+3⁄4 in (9.6 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 1 in (4.3 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
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HMS Garland was originally a French privateer ship named Mars. A privateer was a private ship given permission by its government to attack enemy ships during wartime. The British Royal Navy captured Mars in 1800. They then added it to their own fleet and sent it to the Jamaica Station in the Caribbean. Garland had a short but busy time in service before it was unfortunately wrecked in 1803.
Contents
The French Ship Mars
Mars was built in Bordeaux, France, around 1798. It was one of many corvettes, a type of small warship, made for privateer missions. Captain Estrenne was its first commander. The ship was designed to carry 24 cannons, but it usually carried 22.
Mars' Captures and Recaptures
On February 17, 1800, Mars captured a ship called Active. Active was sailing from Chepstow to Portsmouth. However, on March 4, the British ship Amethyst recaptured Active. Active was then taken to Bearhaven.
Later, on March 11, Mars captured another merchant ship named Perseverance. This ship was traveling from Baltimore to London. But the British ship HMS Nereide quickly recaptured Perseverance. It was then sent to Plymouth. Perseverance was an American ship carrying valuable goods worth about £30,000.
Mars is Captured
On March 31, 1800, the British ships Amethyst and Nymphe worked together to capture Mars. At the time, Mars had twenty 12-pounder guns and two large 36-pounder carronades. It also had a crew of 180 men.
Mars had captured several other ships and was returning to port when the British caught it. Captain John Cooke of the British Navy said Mars was "one of the finest Privateers fitted out of Bourdeaux." The British decided to use Mars in their own navy. They renamed it Garland. This was because there was already a Mars in service. Also, a previous Garland had been wrecked in 1798, so the name was available again.
Garland officially joined the Royal Navy in September 1800. Commander John Acworth Ommanney was its first temporary captain. He was recovering from an illness, and this job was arranged for him. In October, Captain Robert Honyman took over command of Garland. The ship was then assigned to the English Channel.
Helping Other Ships
On April 3, 1801, Garland helped Renard and Suffisante recapture a brig (a type of two-masted ship) named Swan. A few days later, on April 6, Garland brought a French brig carrying wheat into Portsmouth.
Later that year, on June 21, Captain Honyman and Garland sailed to Jamaica. They were escorting Admiral Robert Montagu and a group of merchant ships, including one called Queen, to the West Indies.
Changes in Command
While in Jamaica, Captain Honyman moved to another ship, Topaze. He sailed Topaze back to England in October 1801. Captain James Carhew then became the new commander of Garland.
In January 1803, Captain John Sorrel took command of Garland. He had previously commanded Echo. Around May 1803, Captain Frederick Cotterell became the final captain of Garland.
The Loss of Garland
On November 10, 1803, Garland was sailing with a group of other British ships. They were off the northern coast of Santo Domingo (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Garland was sent to check on a strange ship they had spotted. However, the winds were very light, so Garland moved slowly.
As evening approached, ocean currents pushed Garland too close to the shore. It ran aground on the Caracole reef, near Cap François. The crew tried to lighten the ship by throwing things overboard, but it started taking on water and tilted onto its side.
The other ships in the squadron quickly came to help. They rescued Garland's crew and managed to save some supplies and food. The next day, November 11, the crew set Garland on fire to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The fire completely destroyed the ship.
