Prince Adolphus (1795 ship) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Great Britain
Name	Prince Adolphus
Namesake	Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
Builder	Falmouth
Launched	1795
Captured	1813
General characteristics
Tons burthen	180 (bm)
Complement	31 (at capture)
Armament	8 guns (at capture)

The Prince Adolphus was a special kind of ship called a packet. It was built in 1795 in Falmouth, Cornwall, England. Packet ships were important because they carried mail, passengers, and valuable goods across the seas for the Post Office Packet Service.

This ship had an exciting history. It was involved in two big events. In 1798, a French privateer captured it, but the ship was later bought back. Then, in 1805, its own crew had a mutiny (rebellion) while the ship was in Falmouth. This mutiny caused big changes for the Post Office's shipping services. The Prince Adolphus was finally captured by an American privateer in 1812.

The Ship's Adventures

Captured by a French Privateer

On June 9, 1798, the Prince Adolphus was sailing from Lisbon, Portugal, back to Falmouth. Suddenly, a French privateer attacked and captured it. A privateer was a private ship that had permission from its government to attack enemy ships during wartime. This French privateer was named Tigre.

The Tigres captain took most of the Prince Adolphuss crew. But he let the passengers stay on board. These passengers included a general, his wife, and many army officers. They promised not to try and take the ship back.

The French captain offered to sell the Prince Adolphus back for a large sum of money. The ship's captain refused this offer. So, a small crew from the Tigre took control of the Prince Adolphus. They were ordered to sail it to the nearest Spanish port.

After three days, the passengers made a deal with the French prize master. They agreed to pay him money if he would take the ship to Lisbon instead. The Prince Adolphus arrived safely in Lisbon on June 23. Later, on September 24, the ship returned to Falmouth.

The story of the ransom was a bit tricky. The only officer left on the Prince Adolphus was the ship's surgeon, Mr. Bullock. He was the one who negotiated the payment. He promised the Post Office would pay the money once the ship reached Lisbon.

However, a new law in Britain made it illegal to send money to anyone connected to the French government. This meant paying the ransom could lead to serious trouble. The Post Office asked the government for advice. They decided to pay the money as promised. A special part was added to a new law to make sure no one got in trouble for paying. The French prize master was paid and left, very happy with the honest treatment he received.

The Crew's Mutiny

On October 24, 1810, the Prince Adolphus and another packet ship, the Duke of Marlborough, were getting ready to sail from Falmouth. Customs officials came aboard and searched the crews' belongings. They found and took away items the sailors had bought to sell abroad. These "little adventures" were how the crew earned extra money. Their regular wages had not increased for years, even though prices were going up because of the Napoleonic Wars.

Earlier, in August 1810, the sailors had asked for better wages and the right to sell their own goods again. But the Post Office had not made a decision.

After their goods were taken, the crews of both ships stopped working. They refused to sail. Because they wouldn't obey, the Post Office agent removed their protection from being forced into the Royal Navy. A naval captain came aboard and took 26 men to serve in the Navy.

Just ten days before, the Duke of Marlborough had fought bravely against a privateer. Some of its crew were even wounded. It was unfair that these men, who had been heroes, were now forced into the Navy.

Crews from nine more packet ships also left their vessels to avoid being forced into the Navy. Most of the 26 men who were taken were sent to join the fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. The Duke of Marlborough eventually sailed with new sailors from a naval ship. The Prince Adolphus could not get enough new crew members right away. Other naval ships had to carry the mail instead.

Two men, who were not part of the mutiny, carried the sailors' message to London. They were briefly jailed, but then released. Between November 1 and 4, three packet ships, including the Prince Adolphus, returned to service. The Prince Adolphus sailed for Jamaica.

Because of the mutiny, the Post Office ordered the remaining packet ships to move from Falmouth to Plymouth. On November 5 and 6, the Navy escorted eight ships to Plymouth. However, Plymouth was too busy supporting the Navy. The move was not successful. So, between February 13 and 15, 1813, all thirteen packet ships at Plymouth returned to Falmouth. Eventually, things went back to normal.

Final Journey

Captured by Americans

On August 9, 1812, the American privateer schooner Governor McKean captured the Prince Adolphus. This happened during the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. The Prince Adolphus was sailing from Martinique to Falmouth. Important passengers were on board, including the governor of Demerara.

The American newspapers reported that the Prince Adolphus had eight guns and a crew of 36 men. The ship arrived in Philadelphia, USA, on August 28. The shipping records for 1813 simply noted that the Prince Adolphus was "Captured."