PDA

View Full Version : HEIC ship Cornwallis.



Bligh
11-04-2015, 08:35
Cornwallis.


HMS Cornwallis was a Royal Navy (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Royal_Navy) 54-gun fourth rate (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Fourth_rate). Jemsatjee Bomanjee built the Marquis Cornwallis of teak for the East India Company (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/East_India_Company). In March 1805 Admiral Sir Edward Pellew (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Edward_Pellew,_1st_Viscount_Exmouth) purchased her from the Company shortly after she returned from an expedition against the Mahe Islands. In February 1811 the Admiralty renamed her HMS Akbar.



17964 (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Dutch_East_Indies)

In December 1801, she sailed, together with the Upton Castle (an Indiaman), the Betsey, an armed HEIC brig, some other vessels, and 1000 troops to Daman (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Daman,_Daman_and_Diu) and Diu (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Diu,_India) to persuade the Portuguese governor to resist any French incursion. The expedition was under the command of Captain John Mackellar, of the Royal Navy, whose own vessel, Terpsichore (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/HMS_Terpsichore_(1785)), was not ready for sea. The governor accepted the British reinforcements, which, as it turned out, were not needed.

On 8 May 1804, Marquis Cornwallis sailed from Portsmouth under the command of Captain Isaac G. Richardson. She sailed via Saint Helena (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Saint_Helena) to Bombay, where the company intended for her to remain. She was convoying the Marquis of Ely, the Marchioness of Exeter, the Lord Nelson, the Bruswick, the Princess Charlotte, the Marquis of Wellesley, and the Ann.

In 1805 Admiral Pellew purchased her for £68,630. She was commissioned under Commander Charles James Johnson. She then served off Bombay (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Bombay) and engaged in the long-distance blockade of Isle de France (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Isle_de_France_(Mauritius)) (now Mauritius (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Mauritius)).

On 11 November 1806, Sceptre (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/HMS_Sceptre_(1802)) and Cornwallis sailed into Saint Paul's Bay (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Saint_Paul,_R%C3%A9union), on Île Bonaparte (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/%C3%8Ele_Bonaparte), in an attempt to cut out vessels there, which consisted of the French frigate Sémillante (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/French_frigate_S%C3%A9millante_(1792)), three other armed ships and twelve captured British ships. (The eight ships that were prizes to Sémillante had a collective value of ₤1.5 million.) They fired on the French and took fire in return. However, when the slight breeze failed, Sceptre and Cornwallis found themselves unable to manoeuvre. They therefore left without having accomplished anything, but apparently also without having suffered damage or losses.

In February 1807, Cornwallis was ordered to Australia (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Australia). She reached Port Jackson (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Sydney) by sailing through the Bass Strait (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Bass_Strait), which made her the first Royal Navy ship to traverse the strait. After visiting Port Jackson, Cornwallis sailed to New Zealand (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/New_Zealand) and subsequently crossed the Pacific Ocean (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Pacific_Ocean) to the Juan Fernández Islands (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Juan_Fern%C3%A1ndez_Islands) in the vain hope of finding enemy shipping.
Off Valparaiso (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Valparaiso), an accidental explosion caused serious damage and a number of casualties aboard the frigate, but she was still able to raid Spanish settlements in the region, capturing a number of sheep (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Sheep) and pigs (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Pigs) and a few small vessels on the Peruvian (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Peru) coast. In September, Cornwallis raided Spanish settlements and shipping near Panama (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Panama) and subsequently visited Acapulco (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Acapulco) and Hawaii (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Hawaii) before returning to Madras (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Madras).

In 1808, command passed to Captain Fleetwood Pellew (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Fleetwood_Pellew). In this year, Cornwallis, in company with Sceptre, engaged and damaged Sémillante, together with the shore batteries whose protection she had sought.

In 1809 Captain William Augustus Montagu (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/William_Augustus_Montagu) took command. Montagu was engaged in a number of operations off the Dutch East Indies (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Dutch_East_Indies), attacking forts on Celebes (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Sulawesi) and Amboyna (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Ambon_Island).

In February 1810, the British attacked Amboyna (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Ambon_Island). In the campaign, Cornwallis captured the ship Mandarine, of 16 guns and 66 men, Captain Besman, on 3 February after a chase of four hours. Madarine had been out for four weeks but had captured nothing. Cornwallis suffered only one man wounded in the action. Mandarine then served as a tender to Cornwallis.

On the 1st of March Cornwallis chased a Dutch man-of-war brig all day until she took refuge in a small bay on the north side of the island of Amblaw. The wind being light and variable, and night approaching, Montagu sent in Cornwallis's boats, under the command of Lieutenant Henry John Peachy. After rowing all night, they captured the Dutch brig Margaritta Louisa, under Captain De Ruyter on 2 March. Margaritta Louisa was pierced for 14 guns but carried only eight, and a crew of 40 men.[7] (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/hms_cornwallis_(1801)#cite_note-LG16407-8) Margaritta Louisa had left Surabaya (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Surabaya) nine days earlier with 20 to 30,000 dollars for Ambonya, and supplies for Ternate (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Ternate). In the boarding, the British had one man seriously wounded and for men lightly wounded; the Dutch lost one man killed and 20 wounded.
As the wind was light and variable, and night approaching, Captain Montagu sent the yawl, cutter, and jolly-boat, under the command of Lieutenant Henry John Peachey, assisted by Mr. John Garland the master, and master's mate William Sanderson, to endeavour to bring the vessel out.

After a fatiguing pull during the whole night, the boats found themselves, at daylight, close to the vessel : which was the Dutch national brig Margaretta, mounting eight, but pierced for 14 guns, with a crew of 40 men. In the face of a heavy fire of grape and musketry, and of a brave defence by pikes and swords, Lieutenant Peachey and his party boarded and carried the brig, and that with so comparatively slight a loss as one man dangerously, and four slightly wounded. The Dutch had one officer killed and 20 seamen wounded.

On 28 March Cornwallis and Dover shared in Samarang's capture of the Dutch brig Recruiter.


In late 1810, Cornwallis was deployed with Albemarle Bertie's (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Sir_Albemarle_Bertie,_1st_Baronet) squadron that forced the surrender of Isle de France (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Invasion_of_Isle_de_France). William Fisher took command after Cornwallis' Captain Montagu (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/William_Augustus_Montagu) was selected from among the captains assembled for the invasion and reassigned to lead a naval brigade in support of the British Army (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/British_Army) forces' ground offensive. Over the next four years Cornwallis remained in the Indian Ocean under various commanders.

On 29 June 1811 Salsette (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/HMS_Salsette_(1805)) captured the slaver Expedition off Mauritius. The prize crew took the ship and the slaves on her to the Portuguese colony of Goa because selling slaves was illegal in British India, but not Goa. Salsette shared the prize money with the crews of Drake and Cornwallis.

Between 4 August and 19 September 1811, Akbar participated in the capture of Java (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/Invasion_of_Java_(1811)). In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Java" to all surviving claimants from the campaign.

In the spring of 1813, Captain Archibald Dickson was appointed to command Akbar.[ (http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/hms_cornwallis_(1801)#cite_note-15) On 15 May 1814, Akbar captured the Indian Lass. In 1814 Cornwallis traveled to Britain for the first time.

Rob.

Naharaht
11-04-2015, 10:07
A thorough history. :thumbsup: Is HMS Cornwallis going to be your next building project, Rob?

Bligh
11-04-2015, 13:43
If I can find a decent set of plans she will be.
Rob.

Union Jack
11-05-2015, 10:12
Further Info:

Akbar, late Cornwallis, 1801 (ex-East Indiaman)
Type: 4th Rate ; From 1805 troopship † ; Armament 54
Purchased : 1801 ; Disposal date or year : 1862
BM: 1388 tons
Notes:

1801 Marquis Cornwallis Purchased and renamed Cornwallis

1806 Cornwallis renamed Akbar, although it would appear that the name Cornwallis remained in use for a number of years afterwards.

9 Feb 1810 Dover, Cornwallis, [should probably read Akbar, having been renamed in 1806], and Samarang involved in a naval and military expedition to take the island of Amboyna, along with three Dutch national vessels which had been sunk ‡, following which the islands of Saparoua, Harouka, Nasso-Lant, Bouro, and Manippa soon surrendered.

‡ One of these vessels, the Mandarin, which was raised, was subsequently used as a troop transport.

1 Mar 1810 chased the Dutch national brig Margaretta into a small bay on the north side of the island of Amblaw which, after a long haul, was eventually taken by the ship's boats.

21 Nov 1810 off the island of Rodriquez preparing for a joint naval and military expedition to take the Isle of France, where they arrived on 28th, and the capitulation was signed on the 3 Dec.

13 Mar 1811 Sailed from Madras.

4 Aug 1811 a part of the fleet involved in the invasion of Java, now under the command of R.-adm the Hon. R. Stopford, who detached the Akbar, Phaëton, Bucephalus, and Sir-Francis-Drake to blockade the French frigates Nymphe and Méduse in Batavia road.

30 Aug 1811 Akbar weighed and sailed to the westward and was replaced by the Barracouta in blockading the French frigates Nymphe and Méduse in Batavia road.

† 1813 some comments on her suitability as a man of war and her consequent reduction to a store and troop ship.

Portsmouth Aug 16 1813 Arrived from the Downs, under orders for America..

Portsmouth Aug 18 1813 Allocated to convoy duties.

Portsmouth Aug 23 1813 The Acbar sailed with the Iris and convoy for Brazil and NSW.

Falmouth Aug 27 1813 Sailed 39 merchantmen to join Acbar off this port.

Portsmouth May 25 1814 Arrived (Captain A Dickson), with a convoy from the Brazils, which coast she left 15 weeks ago. Portsmouth May 30 1814 Has made a convoy signal for the West Indies. Portsmouth Jul 11 1814 Dropped down to St. Helen's Roads, with a small convoy for North America and Newfoundland, and will sail in the morning, wind permitting.

Portsmouth Jul 12 1814 Sailed.

Cove of Cork, Jul 21 1814 Arrived from Portsmouth, with convoy of merchantmen and will proceed to sea the first shift of wind.

Cork Jul 25 1814 Sailed with convoy, for Newfoundland and Halifax.

17 Aug 1814 The Neptune, from Porto Rico, spoke on the Sunday with the Acbar, accompanied by a convoy.

14 Sep 1814, Akbar arrived Halifax, with the Sharpshooter, and a convoy from Cork and Portsmouth, in 55 days.

Falmouth Oct 26 1814 Arrived, the Henry, from St. John's, bound to London ; fell in with the Acbar ; kept company, and on the 13th made signal of distress. The Akbar sent on board 6 men to assist at the pumps, and without this assistance they must have abandoned the ship.

Portsmouth Nov 2 1814 arrived from Plymouth.

Portsmouth Feb 2 1815 Dropped down to St. Helen's to sail on a cruise.

Portsmouth Feb 3 1815 HMS Akbar is appointed convoy for the Cape, East Indies, and South Seas.

Falmouth Mar 20 1815 Passed down Channel HMS Akbar with ships bound to the East Indies.

Deal Apr 4 1815 arrived from Plymouth, and sailed to take command in the Scheldt.

Deal Apr 25 1815 arrived from the Scheldt, and sailed again for Plymouth.

3 Jun 1815, arrived Halifax in 55 days from Plymouth.

28 Jun 1815, at Halifax, a Court Martial was held on board for the trial of the officers and men of the Levant and Cyane, captured by the USS Constitution, the officers and men being acquitted, since, with her greater manoeuverability the Constitution was able to stay out of range of the Levant and Cyane's carronades, which were no match for the 17 long 24-pounders, which were picking off the Levant and Cyane at will.

31 Jul 1815, departed Halifax on a cruise off New York.

11 Aug 1815 captured the Hannah. 3 Feb 1818 an a/c of the condemned part of the cargo will be exhibited in the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty.

30 Aug 1815, arrived Halifax, the American brig Hannah, from Guadaloupe, to N. York, captured by HMS Akbar, but I know not why !

31 Aug 1815, during a gale lost her main mast etc., which killed Midshipmen Haswell and Marley, and injured Mid. Whidden and several seamen.

9 Sep 1815, arrived Halifax, from a cruise off New York.

2 Dec 1815, flag ship for R.-Adm Griffith, departed Halifax, for Bermuda.

16 Dec 1815, arrived Bermuda, from Halifax, with the loss of some spars in the recent bad weather.

8 Jun 1816, arrived Halifax, from Bermuda.

1 Sep 1816, departed Halifax, for Shelburne, N.B., with the Niger, and Pactolus.

24 Sep 1816, arrived Halifax, from Shelburne, N.B.

10 Nov 1816, departed Halifax, for England, having handed over as flag ship to the Forth, and takes with her a large number of passengers, including 200 invalids.

Portsmouth 11 Dec 1816, on Wednesday evening arrived from Halifax, (10 Nov.) She reports that the crews of the Akbar and Pactolus, with the military, assisted in fighting a serious fire at Halifax.

1824 Condemned to Harbour Service

1830 Quarantine Service, Milford

Feb 1842 Quarantine Service, Liverpool.

1848 Quarantine Service, Liverpool.

1860 Quarantine Service, Liverpool

1862 Sold

Class and type: Fourth rate
Tons burthen: 1387 17⁄95, or 1360 (bm)
Length: 164 ft 4 1⁄2 in (50.102 m), or 171 ft 4 in (52.22 m) (overall)
140 ft 7 7⁄8 in (42.872 m), or 139 ft 7 3⁄4 in (42.564 m)
Beam: 43 ft 1 1⁄4 in (13.138 m), or 42 ft 9 1⁄2 in (13.043 m)
Depth of hold: 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m), or 14 ft 10 1⁄2 in (4.534 m)
Complement: 430
Armament: Frigate

Upper deck (UD): 30 x 24-pounder guns

QD: 26 x 42-pounder carronades
Fc:1 x 18 or 24-pounder gun
Troopship
UD: 22 x 32-pounder carronades + 2 x 9-pounder guns
QD: 8 x 32-pounder carronades
Fc:2 x 9-pounder guns

Somewhere in between these two Rob.

17460
HMS Isis 50 guns

17461
HMS Polyphemus 64 guns

Bligh
11-05-2015, 11:57
Thanks for that extra info Neil.
I am finding any pictures of said ship very hard to find.
Rob.

Naharaht
11-06-2015, 00:54
Here is a painting of HMS Akbar (1815). 17475

It is one of a set of six kept in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London. http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/100441.html

I am afraid that your picture in post #1 is the Marquis Cornwallis, which was a different ship, Rob.

Bligh
11-06-2015, 01:26
I am afraid that your picture in post #1 is the Marquis Cornwallis, which was a different ship, Rob.


You are quite right Dave. As soon as I posted it and saw it blown up I realized. That it did not delete and went into an attachment I did not notice. So thanks for drawing my attention to that.:thumbsup:
Rob.

Union Jack
11-06-2015, 03:28
There were two HMS Cornwallis' on the active list:

1 was a 74 and the other the former Marquis Cornwallis renamed HMS Cornwallis, renamed HMS Akbar.

Bligh
11-07-2015, 00:51
It is the 54 later named Akbar that I am interested in Neil.
Rob.

Union Jack
11-07-2015, 18:18
Did find this one and is as close to it as I could get.

17556

Naharaht
11-07-2015, 20:03
I think that you will find much of what you want here, Rob http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections.html#!csearch;searchTerm=Akbar;start=0

Images 11 & 12 on page 2 may be particularly useful.

Naharaht
11-08-2015, 01:23
One interesting thing I have discovered is that, if you take a drawing of a ship plan e.g. HMS Akbar
17559,

load it into a graphics program ( I used Paint) and invert the colours, it produces a blueprint.
17560

Bligh
11-08-2015, 02:53
That is very useful chaps. Thanks.
Your blueprint idea is very good Dave. It makes the line details much easier for me to see.
Thanks again.
Rob.

Union Jack
11-08-2015, 04:59
Yep that's were mine was found. Took some searching though.



I think that you will find much of what you want here, Rob http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections.html#!csearch;searchTerm=Akbar;start=0

Images 11 & 12 on page 2 may be particularly useful.

Bligh
11-08-2015, 05:22
I'm not surprised Neil. I have been looking for weeks now. That's why I'm so grateful to you both.
I would give you rep Neil but still have to spread it around some more. That's three lots I now owe you.
Rob.

Herkybird
11-08-2015, 12:29
I'm not surprised Neil. I have been looking for weeks now. That's why I'm so grateful to you both.
I would give you rep Neil but still have to spread it around some more. That's three lots I now owe you.
Rob.

Indeed! - I so often think rep is appropriate, but get the 'Must spread it around first' error message!

Frustrating much! :bleh:

Bligh
11-08-2015, 13:56
I find it particularly irksome here, because with far fewer posts than on the Drome it can be quite some time before you can reward someone for a good post, by which time they usually have earned another one or more which you can't award either.
Rob.

Union Jack
11-08-2015, 16:02
Yes it is equally hard when there are so few active members.

Herkybird
11-09-2015, 12:34
Ah, they may be few, but by God they are good! :thumbsup:

Union Jack
11-09-2015, 14:28
Quality over quantity unless you're Russian where quantity has a quality all of its own.

TexaS
11-17-2015, 11:12
I so much agree and would give rep, but... :wink:

Union Jack
11-18-2015, 03:05
This may be HMS Akbar but it could be just AKBAR a training ship as the picture is circa 1856.

HMS Akbar was a training ship launched in 1816 as the 74-gun third rate HMS Hero. She was renamed HMS Wellington in 1816 and Akbar in 1862. She was sold for breaking up in 1906.

17944


Here is a painting of HMS Akbar (1815). 17475

It is one of a set of six kept in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London. http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/100441.html

I am afraid that your picture in post #1 is the Marquis Cornwallis, which was a different ship, Rob.

Naharaht
11-18-2015, 05:26
Neil, if you follow this link, http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections.html#!csearch;searchTerm=Akbar;start=0

you will see that the National Maritime Museum says that it is a picture of HMS Akbar in 1815.

Union Jack
11-18-2015, 08:40
Followed the quote and read the info, it's just that both ships are very similar. And the older looking drawing is from the 1860's.


Neil, if you follow this link, http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections.html#!csearch;searchTerm=Akbar;start=0

you will see that the National Maritime Museum says that it is a picture of HMS Akbar in 1815.

Union Jack
11-18-2015, 08:41
The Marquis of Cornwallis, which later became HMS Cornwallis then HMS Akbar was a slave trade ship originally.