HMS Manly (1804)
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Manly |
| Operator: | Royal Navy |
| Ordered: | 9 January 1804 |
| Builder: | John Dudman & Co, Deptford Wharf |
| Laid down: | February 1804 |
| Launched: | 7 May 1804 |
| Commissioned: | May 1804 |
| Fate: | Sold 11 August 1814 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Archer-class gun-brig |
| Tons burthen: | 177 bm |
| Length: | 80 ft 1 in (24.41 m) |
| Beam: | 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 9 ft 5.5 in (2.883 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Complement: | 50 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Manly was an Archer-class gun-brig built by (John) Dudman & Co., Deptford Wharf. She was launched and commissioned in May 1804 under Lieutenant George Mackay. During her career she was captured twice, once by the Dutch and once by the Danes. The British recaptured her both times, renaming her HMS Bold after her recapture in 1813. She was sold out of service in 1814.
Active service
In 1805 she cruised off Boulogne, but in January 1806, while under the command of Lieutenant Martin White, she grounded off Rysum, in the River Ems, East Friesland. Dutch gun-boats then captured her.[1][2]
On 1 January 1809, the 10-gun brig HMS Onyx with 75 men under Commander Charles Gill, recaptured Manly from the Dutch. The action took two and a half hours, with the British suffering three wounded, and the prize, which had 94 men, suffering five killed and six wounded. Manly was under the command of captain-lieutenant J.W. Heneyman and had taken one small prize. The action won a promotion to Post-captain for Commander Gill, and a medal.[3] Lieutenant Edward William Garrett, first of the Onyx, received promotion to the rank of commander.[4]
On 29 May 1810, boats from Manly, HMS Desiree, HMS Quebec, and HMS Britomart under the command of Lieutenant Samuel Radford attacked several French armed vessels in the Vlie. They drove ashore and burned a French lugger of six guns and 26 men, and captured and brought out another lugger of 12 guns and 42 men and a French privateer schuyt of four guns.[5]
On 17 August 1811 Manly sailed from Sheerness with a convoy for the Baltic under Captain Richard W. Simmonds. On 2 September 1811, while she was cruising off Arendal on the Norwegian coast in the company of HMS Chanticleer, three Danish 18-gun-brigs (Ålsen, Låland, and Samsø) engaged Manly. The Danes concentrated their fire on her, cutting her spars and rigging to pieces. With only six guns left, and having lost one man killed and three wounded, Manly was forced to strike.[1] Chanticleer maintained a course away from the action and made good her escape.[6] A court martial on 6 January 1812 “most honourably acquitted” Lieutenant Speare, Manly’s commander, who was posted on 3 May 1813.[7]
In November 1813 she was recaptured and renamed HMS Bold, a new HMS Manly having just been commissioned and the 14-gun brig Bold just having been lost a month two earlier.[1]
Fate
She was sold on 11 August 1814 for £940.[1]
Notes and references
- Gossett, William Patrick (1986) The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. (London:Mansell). ISBN 0-7201-1816-6
- James, William (1837) Naval History of Great Britain, 1793-1827. Vol. V.
- Long, William Henry (1895) Medals of the British navy and how they were won: With a list of those officers who for their gallant conduct were granted honorary swords and plate by the committee of the Patriotic Fund. (London).
- Michael Phillips. Ships of the Old Navy. http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/liste.php?char=B
- Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1861762461.
