HMS Spey (1814) facts for kids

Spey
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Spey
Namesake	River Spey
Ordered	18 November 1812
Builder	James Warwick, Eling
Laid down	May 1813
Launched	8 January 1814
Fate	Sold 1822
Gran Colombia
Name	Boyacá
Namesake	Battle of Boyacá
Owner	Navy of Gran Colombia
Acquired	1822 by purchase
Fate	Laid up 1826
General characteristics
Class and type	Cyrus-class ship-sloop
Type	Ship-sloop
Tons burthen	46344⁄94 (bm)
Length	Overall:115 ft 8+3⁄8 in (35.3 m) Keel:97 ft 4+1⁄2 in (29.7 m)
Beam	29 ft 11 in (9.1 m)
Depth of hold	8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
Crew	135
Armament	Upper deck:20 × 32-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder chase guns

HMS Spey was a British warship launched in 1814, near the end of the Napoleonic Wars. She was a sixth rate post ship, meaning she was a smaller warship with a specific number of guns. Spey had a short career with the Royal Navy, serving in areas like St Helena and Malta.

In 1819, while stationed near Malta, Spey played an important role in catching a British pirate ship. After her time with the Royal Navy, Spey was sold in 1822. She was then bought by the government of Gran Colombia, a large country that used to exist in South America. They renamed her Boyacá. The ship took part in the Battle of Lake Maracaibo in 1823. She also helped capture many Spanish ships in 1824. Boyacá was put out of service in 1827 and her story ends there.

HMS Spey: A Royal Navy Ship

After Spey was launched, she was immediately placed into "Ordinary." This meant she was kept in a reserve fleet, ready to be used if needed. In 1814, Captain Hew Stewart took command. The ship was prepared for sea at Portsmouth between December 1814 and February 1815.

Captain George Fergusson took command in December 1814. The ship was then prepared for service in other countries at Woolwich from September to December 1815. Captain John Lake became her commander in October.

On November 15, 1816, Captain James Arthur Murray was promoted and took command of Spey. He then sailed her to the Cape of Good Hope and St Helena. In 1818, Captain James Kearney White commanded the ship. Later, on August 12, 1819, Captain Frederick Noel became her commander for service in the Mediterranean Sea.

Catching a Pirate Ship

On October 3, 1819, a smaller ship called Frederick, led by Lieutenant Hobson from Spey, brought a ship named William into Malta. The captain of William, Delano, and his crew were all arrested. They were expected to face trial for piracy.

Earlier, William had left Malta and robbed an American ship and a Portuguese ship. One of the ships they robbed was Helen. Merchants in Malta asked the Royal Navy for help to find William. However, Spey was busy, and another ship, Racehorse, was not ready. So, insurance companies in Malta hired Frederick to search for William. Captain Noel of Spey allowed Lieutenant Hobson and 18 sailors from Spey and Racehorse to join Frederick.

Two men from the robbed ship Helen were also on board Frederick. They spotted William in a harbor in Smyrna. Lieutenant Hobson and his men used two boats to approach William quietly. They boarded the ship and arrested the crew. Frederick and William arrived back in Malta on October 3.

The pirates were found guilty of their crimes. Six of them, including Captain Delano, faced severe punishment on February 4, 1820. This event showed how serious the Royal Navy was about stopping piracy.

In 1820, Commander John Boswell commanded Spey. He returned with the ship to Portsmouth on August 9, 1821. In September 1821, Commander Charles Phillips took over. Spey was officially taken out of service on September 28, 1821.

Selling the Ship

The Royal Navy decided to sell Spey. On April 18, 1822, they offered "Spey sloop, of 20 guns 463 tons," which was located at Chatham, for sale. She was sold on that day to a person named Mr. Vincent for £1,350.

Boyacá: Serving Gran Colombia

In 1821, a representative from Gran Colombia, Luis López Méndez, made an agreement in London. He arranged a loan to buy weapons and equipment for 10,000 soldiers, and also three ships. The government of Gran Colombia later did not officially approve this agreement.

However, three ships were still acquired: Tarántula, Lady Boringdon, and Spey. They were sent to Gran Colombia in 1822. At first, the Colombians did not want to accept the cargo. But when the city of Maracaibo was captured by Spanish forces on September 7, 1822, they changed their minds. They took the equipment and added the three ships to their navy. Lady Boringdon was renamed Constitución, and Spey became Boyacá.

In 1823, Boyacá took part in the important Battle of Lake Maracaibo. This battle was a key event in the fight for independence in South America.

Later in 1823 and 1824, Boyacá was part of a small group of ships led by Rene Beluche. They patrolled the Caribbean Sea. Boyacá and another ship, Bolivar, reportedly helped free several British and French ships that the Spanish Royalists had captured. They also captured 15 Royalist ships themselves.

On April 4, 1824, Boyacá, commanded by Captain Brown, and Bolivar, commanded by Captain Clark, met the Spanish frigate Ceres near Havana. The Colombian ships were smaller but fought bravely.

• Bolivar: Had 22 large guns and 156 men.
• Boyacá: Had 22 large guns and 140 men.
• Ceres: Was a larger ship with 26 guns and 396 men.

In the battle, Ceres suffered many casualties. The Colombian ships captured Ceres and took her to Pensacola, Florida. The Colombian ships were repaired there. Ceres was too damaged to be used again and had to be taken apart.

The End of Boyacá

Lloyd's List, a shipping newspaper, reported on May 15, 1827, that Boyacá, a ship with 22 guns, had been laid up (put out of service) in Cartagena, Colombia. She was reported to be without her masts. After this, Boyacá disappears from naval records.

Images for kids

• 

  Spey