HMS Sir Sydney Smith (1812)

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Career (UK) RN Ensign
Name: HMS Sir Sydney Smith
Builder: Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard
Renamed: formerly Simcoe, renamed HMS Magnet on 11 January 1814
Honours and
awards:
War of 1812.
Fate: burnt on 5 August 1814 to prevent her being captured by the Americans.
General characteristics
Class and type: schooner
Tons burthen: 187
Complement: 70
Armament: 1 long 12-pdr
1 long 9-pdr
6 18-pdr carronade
Notes: Provincial Marine vessel, a 10-gun brig of the Royal Navy

HMS Sir Sydney Smith was a 10-gun schooner, later altered to brig, of the Royal Navy in 1814. She saw service on the on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812.

She was previously named Simcoe, and was also referred to as Governor Simcoe. . She was named after John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada. She was briefly involved in a chase near Burlington, Ontario by USS Julia. She was not however a commissioned warship of the Royal Navy and so is not entitled to the prefix 'HMS'. She was however purchased by the navy in 1812, and was renamed HMS Magnet on 11 January 1814. She was burnt on 5 August 1814 to prevent her being captured by the Americans.

See also

Engagements on Lake Ontario

References