HMS Carysfort (1836)

HMS Carysfort was a sixth-rate sailing frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1836 and named for the Earl of Carysfort, who had been a former (civilian) Lord of the Admiralty.[1] Her captain, Lord George Paulet, occupied the Hawaiian Islands for five months in 1843. She was decommissioned in 1847 and finally broken up in 1861.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Carysfort.

History
UK
Name:	HMS Carysfort
Ordered:	29 June 1831
Builder:	Pembroke Dock
Laid down:	September 1832
Launched:	12 August 1836
Decommissioned:	1847
Fate:	Sold 1861
General characteristics
Class and type:	26-gun sixth-rate frigate
Tons burthen:	925 bm
Length:	130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck) 105 ft 10.125 in (32.3 m) (keel)
Beam:	40 ft 5.875 in (12.3 m)
Depth of hold:	11 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Complement:	240
Armament:	UD: 18 x 32-pounder guns QD: 6 x 32-pounder gunnades Fc: 2 x 32-pounder gunnades

Launch

She was originally ordered from Pembroke Dock on 29 June 1831 as a frigate of the 709-ton Andromache class, but on 24 June 1832 the design was amended and the Carysfort was re-ordered as a unit of the new 912-ton Vestal class. After launching, she was taken to Sheerness Dockyard where she was completed fitting on 18 February 1837.

Under Byam Martin

From 21 November 1836 she was under command of Captain Henry Byam Martin (son of Sir Thomas Byam Martin). Martin sailed her for the Mediterranean on 12 March 1837.[2][3]

The Boats of HM frigates Carysfort and Zebra with 50 Royal Marines, commanded by Lieut. R. H. Harrison, Royal Marines, attacking the castle of Tortosa, 25 September 1840

On 26 September 1840 she joined HMS Zebra in action off Tartus during the Syrian War and took part in the capture of Acre on 3 November 1840.[4]

Under Paulet

Lord George Paulet (1803–1879) became her captain on 28 December 1841 in the Pacific Ocean under Rear Admiral Richard Darton Thomas (1777-1857).[5] From February through July 1843 he took control of the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This became known as the Paulet Affair. Admiral Thomas restored the king, as Paulet had only been given instructions to investigate claims against British subjects in the islands.[6]

Under Seymour

Captain George Henry Seymour took command of Carysfort on 12 December 1845. He remained her captain until 1848.[7]

Notable passengers

Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, his wife the Right Honourable Lady Mary and their second son George, made the voyage on the Carysfort from London to Sydney, where Sir Charles took up his position as the tenth Governor of New South Wales. They arrived on 2 August 1846.[8]

Fate

In 1847 she was laid up at Pembroke Dock and decommissioned. On 22 November 1861 she was sold to Messrs. Ritherdon & Thompson (for £1,200) to be broken up.

References

1. J. J. Colledge and Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy (Revised ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
2. "Mid-Victorian RN vessel HMS Carysfort". Retrieved 21 February 2010.
3. Sarah Searight (2001). "Chapter 15: A Naval Tourist 1834–1840: Captain Henry Byam Martin". In Paul Starkey; Janet Starkey (eds.). Travellers in Egypt. I.B.Tauris. pp. 140–147. ISBN 978-1-86064-674-4.
4. Charles John Napier (1842). The war in Syria. Volume 1. John W. Parker.
5. "Biography of George Paulet R.N." Retrieved 21 February 2010.
6. "Correspondence relating to the Provisional Cession of the Sandwich Islands to great Britain.—February, 1843". British and foreign state papers, Volume 150, Part 1. Great Britain Foreign Office. 1858. pp. 1023–1029.
7. "Biography George Henry Seymour R.N." Retrieved 21 February 2010.
8. Ward, John M. (1966). "FitzRoy, Sir Charles Augustus (1796–1858)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University: Melbourne University Press. 1.

Further reading

• Alexander Simpson (1843). The Sandwich Islands: progress of events since their discovery by Captain Cook. Their occupation by Lord George Paulet. Their value and importance. Smith, Elder.