HMS Pearl (1855) facts for kids
HMS Pearl, about 1856
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Pearl |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Launched | 13 September 1855 |
| Fate | Sold for break up to Castle, August 1884 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Pearl-class corvette |
| Displacement | 2,115 long tons (2,149 t) |
| Tons burthen | 1469 bm |
| Length |
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| Beam | 40 ft 4 in (12.29 m) |
| Draught |
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| Depth of hold | 23 ft 11 in (7.29 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Speed | 11.3 knots (20.9 km/h) (under steam) |
| Armament |
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HMS Pearl was a special warship called a Pearl-class 21-gun screw corvette of the Royal Navy. It was launched in 1855 and weighed about 2,187 tons. A corvette is a smaller, fast warship. This one used both sails and a steam engine to move.
Contents
HMS Pearl and the Indian Rebellion
In September 1857, a big event called the Indian Rebellion was happening in India. To help, 175 sailors from HMS Pearl formed a special group. This group was called the Pearl's Naval Brigade.
The sailors in the brigade were mostly armed with rifles. They took part in several important battles and actions during the rebellion. They often worked alongside a similar group of sailors from another ship, Shannon.
Voyages and Commanders
Edward Southwell Sotheby was the first captain of HMS Pearl when it was put into service in 1855. The ship sailed for several years under his command.
New Captain and Journeys
When the ship returned from India in 1859, John Borlase became the new captain. He commanded HMS Pearl from August 23, 1859, until June 18, 1864. At that time, the ship was taken out of service in Portsmouth.
Adventures in Asia
During its time under Captain Borlase, HMS Pearl sailed all around the East Indies and China. The ship played a part in some important historical events:
- The Taiping Rebellion: This was a large civil war in China.
- The bombardment of Kagoshima: This happened during the Anglo-Satsuma War in Japan.
The North Star Incident
In May 1861, HMS Pearl was involved in an event with a British merchant ship called North Star. This happened off the coast of Hong Kong Island.
Pirate Attack
On May 13, pirates attacked the North Star using a type of Chinese sailing ship called a junk. They seriously hurt or killed at least five of the crew members. The pirates also stole more than 4,000 dollars worth of gold.
Rescue by HMS Pearl
After taking the gold, the pirates left the North Star. Only two crew members survived the attack. They had hidden from the pirates and then managed to sail the damaged ship towards Hong Kong. HMS Pearl was anchored nearby at Green Island. The crew of the Pearl found the North Star and rescued the two survivors.
