HMS Emulous (1806)
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Emulous |
| Ordered: | 21 May 1805 |
| Builder: | William Row, Newcastle |
| Laid down: | December 1805 |
| Launched: | June 1806 |
| Fate: | Wrecked 1812 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 383 bm |
| Length: |
100 ft 0 in (30.48 m) (overall) 77 ft 4.75 in (23.5903 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 30 ft 6.25 in (9.3028 m) |
| Draught: |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) (unladen) 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) (laden) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 9.5 in (3.899 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Armament: |
18 cannons:
|
HMS Emulous was a Royal Navy 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop, built by William Row at Newcastle and launched in 1806.[1] She survived an inconclusive but bloody battle with a French frigate during the Napoleonic Wars and captured two prizes on the Halifax station during the War of 1812 before she was wrecked in 1812.
Service
Emulous was commissioned under Commander Gustavus Stupart for convoys and cruising. She sailed with a Halifax convoy on 18 August 1807 and spent in 1808-1809 in American waters.[1] On 9 November 1809 Emulous fought off a French 32-gun frigate off Puerto Rico. The action took place at pistol-shot range and lasted for one hour and 40 minutes. Emulous was badly damaged and lost 10 men killed and 20 wounded.[2] At some point she and Halifax captured the schooner Spitfire, for which prize money was paid in 1814. Stupart was made post-captain on 21 October 1810.
In November 1810 Captain William Howe Mulcaster took command.[1] On 25 July 1811, Emulous captured the French letter of marque Adele, pierced for 16 guns but only carrying two, with 35 men.[2] She was carrying a cargo of cotton and bound for Nantes from Charlestown.
Then on 30 June 1812, after a short chase Emulous captured the American privateer Gossamer, off Cape Sable.[2] Gossamer had a crew of 100 men and 14 carriage guns, and was under the command of Capt. C. Goodrich. She had left Boston six days earlier and had made only one capture, the Mary Jane of Greenock, bound for Quebec from Jamaica.[3]
Fate
Emulous was wrecked on Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, on 3 August 1812.[4] Another vessel saved the crew but Emulous was unsalvageable.[1]
References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- Gossett, William Patrick (1986). The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. Mansell. ISBN 0-7201-1816-6.
- Maclay, Edgar Stanton (1968) A history of American privateers. (New York: Franklin).
- O'Byrne, William R. (1849) A naval biographical dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty's navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive. (London: J. Murray). Vol. 1.
- Phillips, Michael, Ships of the Old Navy - HMS Emulous
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1861762461.
