HMS Rook (1806)
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Rook |
| Ordered: | 11 December 1805 |
| Builder: | Thomas Sutton, Ringmore, Devon |
| Laid down: | February 1806 |
| Launched: | 21 May 1806 |
| Commissioned: | July 1806 |
| Honours and awards: | Battle of Copenhagen (1807) |
| Captured: | 18 August 1808 |
| Fate: | Burnt by captors, 18 August 1808 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cuckoo-class schooner |
| Tons burthen: | 75 35/94 bm |
| Length: |
56 ft 3 in (17.15 m) (gundeck) 42 ft 4.25 in (12.9096 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 18 ft 3.5 in (5.6 m) |
| Draught: |
|
| Depth of hold: | 8 ft 6.5 in (2.604 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Complement: | 20 officers and men |
| Armament: | 4 × 12 pdr carronades |
HMS Rook (1806) was a Royal Navy Cuckoo-class schooner, that Thomas Sutton built at Ringmore (Teignmouth) and launched in 1806. She had a crew of 20 and her armament consisted of four 12-pounder carronades.[1]
Contents
Service
She was commissioned by Lieut. Joseph Griffiths for the North Sea. With her he was present at the Battle of Copenhagen (1807).[2]
In 1808 Lieut. James Lawrence took command.[1] On 28 June, under orders from Admiral Young, she sailed from Plymouth to the West Indies. After refitting and taking on specie, on 13 August she left Port-Royal (Jamaica) for Britain with despatches. A French schooner shadowed her for two days, but Rook chased her off.[3]
On 18 August Rook had the misfortune to meet with two French privateers off Cape St. Nicholas (San Domingo).[4] The larger enemy schooner carried 12 guns and the smaller carried 10 guns. A shot by Lawrence killed the captain of the largest privateer. After an hour-and-a-half's hard fighting the enemy succeeded in killing Lawrence and taking Rook by boarding. In all, she had three crew members killed (including Lawrence) and 11 wounded (including the Master's Mate - the second in command).[5] The French stripped the survivors naked, including the wounded, and put them into a boat. Fortunately, the four unwounded men were able to bring the boat to land where they encountered hospitable natives. [3]
Fate
The Rook herself was so damaged that the French could not get her into port. Instead, they set fire to her.[3]
Postscript
In 1810, James Auchie & Co., London, sued their insurers for six cases of specie, each containing $2000, carried on Rook and consigned to the company. However, as Lawrence had signed the Bill of Lading (B/L) "contents unknown" and as there was no other evidence beyond some notations in the margin of the B/L, the judge dismissed the suit.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Winfield (2008), p.361.
- ↑ Allen (1856), p.90.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Grocott (1997), p.260.
- ↑ Gossett (1986), p.66.
- ↑ James (1837), p.46.
- ↑ Taunton, William Pyle. Reports of cases argued and determined in the Court of common pleas, and other courts, from Michaelmas term, 48 Geo. III. 1807, to [Hilary term, 59 Geo. III. 1819] both inclusive. With tables of the cases and principal matters. Great Britain. Court of Common Pleas. P. 303.
- Allen, Joseph (1856) The new navy list : and general record of the services of officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. (London: Parker, Furnivall, and Parker, Military Library, Whitehall).
- Gossett, William Patrick (1986) The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. (London:Mansell).ISBN 0-7201-1816-6
- Grocott, Terrence (1997) Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic eras. (Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books). ISBN 9780811715331
- James, William (1837). The Naval History of Great Britain, from the Declaration of War by France in 1793, to the Accession of George IV.. 5. R. Bentley.
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1861762461.
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