Protector (1779 frigate) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Massachusetts |
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| Name | Protector |
| Launched | 1779, Newburyport, Massachusetts |
| Captured | 5 May 1781 |
 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Hussar |
| Namesake | Hussar |
| Acquired | 1781 by capture |
| Fate | Sold 1783 |
 Denmark |
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| Name | Hussaren |
| Owner | Frédéric de Coninck |
| Acquired | 1783 by purchase |
| Fate | Sold c. 1787 |
 Great Britain |
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| Name | Hussar |
| Acquired | 1787 by purchase |
| Fate | No longer listed by 1790 |
| Notes | Lloyd's Register describes Hussar as a three-decker. |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen |
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| Sail plan | Ship |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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Protector was a fast warship, called a frigate, built for the Massachusetts Navy in 1779. She was an important ship during the American Revolutionary War. Protector had an exciting battle against a British privateer ship named General Duff. A privateer was a private ship allowed to attack enemy ships.
Later, the British Royal Navy captured Protector in 1781. They renamed her HMS Hussar and used her as a post ship. HMS Hussar also had a famous fight against a French frigate called Sybille. The Royal Navy sold Hussar in 1783. A Danish ship owner bought her and renamed her Hussaren. She sailed to the East Indies once before being sold to British owners around 1786. The ship was last listed in records around 1790.
Contents
Building and Early Missions
The Protector was a new warship with 20 to 28 guns. In the spring of 1780, Captain John Foster Williams took command of her. By June, the ship was ready to sail. Her mission was to patrol the waters near the Newfoundland Banks. This area was a good place to look for British merchant ships.
Battle with Admiral Duff
On June 9, 1780, at 7:00 AM, Protector saw a strange ship. The ship was flying British flags and sailing towards them. At 11:00 AM, Protector, also flying British flags, spoke to the other ship. They learned it was the Admiral Duff, a 32-gun letter-of-marque ship. A letter-of-marque meant it was a private ship allowed to act like a warship. Admiral Duff was sailing from St. Kitts to London.
Once Protector knew who the enemy was, they quickly lowered their British flags. They raised the American Continental flag and started firing their guns. The battle lasted for about 90 minutes. Then, the Admiral Duff caught fire and exploded. Protector rescued 55 survivors from the water.
Captures and Capture
In May 1781, news reached Britain that Protector had captured some ships. She and another American frigate, Deane, had taken the John and another ship. These captured ships were brought to Martinique.
In June, it was reported that Protector had captured the Sally. This ship was sailing from St. Kitts to New York. Protector had 28 guns and 179 crew members at this time.
News traveled slowly back then. On May 5, 1781, before the British heard about these captures, Protector herself was captured. The British warships HMS Roebuck and HMS Medea caught her near Sandy Hook. The British Royal Navy then took Protector into their service. They renamed her HMS Hussar.
New Command and Captures
After being captured, the Royal Navy made Protector into HMS Hussar. Captain Thomas McNamara Russell was given command of the ship.
On May 3, 1782, HMS Hussar captured a brig called Boston Packet. This brig was carrying important supplies like flour and rum.
Famous Battle with Sybille
HMS Hussar's most well-known battle was against the French frigate Sybille. This fight happened on January 22, 1783.
In this battle, Hussar won. She only lost two crew members and had five or six wounded. However, there was some debate about how the French captain acted during the fight.
HMS Hussar arrived at Deptford, England, on June 3, 1783. She was then taken out of service. The Royal Navy sold Hussar on August 14, 1783, for £1540.
Life as a Merchant Ship
Danish Ownership: Hussaren
A Dutch trader named Frédéric de Coninck bought the ship. He ran a large shipping business from Copenhagen, Denmark. The ship already had a special machine to turn seawater into fresh water. This was very useful for long trips, especially to the East Indies. Danish engineers even drew pictures of this cool machine.
The ship's captain was A. M'Intosh. At first, she sailed between London and Copenhagen. In 1784-1785, she made a long voyage to Bengal, India, and back to Denmark. When she sailed up the Hooghly River to Calcutta, the British East India Company thought she might be an American ship. This was even though she was flying Danish flags. Captain M'Intosh sadly died in late 1785.
Danish records show that Hussaren only made one trip for De Coninck.
British Merchant Ship
By 1787, Lloyd's Register, a record of ships, showed a new captain for the ship, R. Wilson. It also showed a new owner and a new trade route: Honduras to Bristol, England.
Lloyd's Register was not published in 1788. Some pages are missing from the 1789 book. By 1790, Hussar was no longer listed in the records. This means she was likely no longer in service.
