HMS Tobago (1805)

HMS Tobago was a schooner of unknown origin that the British Royal Navy purchased in 1805. In 1806 a French privateer captured her. The Royal Navy recaptured her in 1809 and took her into service as HMS Vengeur before selling her later that year.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Tobago, French ship Vengeur, and HMS Vengeur.

United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Tobago
Acquired:	1805 by purchase
Fate:	Captured October 1806
France
Name:	Vengeur
Acquired:	By capture 1806
Captured:	January 1809
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Vengeur
Acquired:	By capture January 1809
Fate:	Sold 1809
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen:	120,[2] or 127 bm
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Schooner
Armament:	Tobago: 10 guns Vengeur: 16 guns

Career

Lieutenant Donald Campbell was appointed 20 February 1805 to command Tobago. He participated in a successful attack made in company with Curieux on two merchantmen, lying for protection under the batteries at Barcelona, on the coast of Caraccas. Campbell left Tobago in July.[3]

Lieutenant John Salomon (acting) assumed command of Tobago towards the close of 1805. He had commanded the prison ship Amboyna.[Note 1] Tobago then spent some months sailing between Grenada, Barbados, and Guadeloupe exchanging prisoners of war.[4]

On 6 August Tobago was in company with Jason, Hart, and the schooner Maria when they captured Hercules.[6]

Capture

Before dawn on 18 October 1806 Tobago left Dominica where she had been replenishing her water supplies. Soon after, Salmon sighted a brig, joined by a schooner and a sloop, that all made towards Tobago. Tobago prepared for action, while attempting to steer away from the probably hostile squadron. The enemy closed by 8:30, with the schooner and sloop exchanging fire with Tobago. The French attempted to board, but Tobago repulsed the attempt. She was not able to escape though, and the French schooner was able to get her jib-boom over Tobago's taffrail and rake her with small arms fire. Salmon received a shot in the head and his men took him below decks. Sub-Lieutenant Nichols Gould assumed command and continued the fight for another half-hour but then, with Tobago having lost one man killed and 15 wounded (including Salmon), was forced to strike. Her captor was the French privateer General Ernouf, of 16 guns.[2] Général Ernouf (1805 - 1808), was a Danish 16-gun brig, originally under the command of the notable French privateer captain Alexis Grassin.[7]

On 24 June 1807 Salmon received promotion to the rank of Lieutenant after his release and repatriation.[4]

Recapture

On 24 January 1809 Beagle was in the English Channel when she captured Vengeur, of 16 guns and 48 men. Vengeur was in company with Grand Napoleon, which escaped.[Note 2] Vengeur herself did not surrender until Beagle came alongside,[10] though her captain, M. Bourgnie, was wounded.[11] Vengeur had made no captures.[12] Vengeur was the former Tobago.[1][Note 3]

Disposal

The Royal Navy took Vengeur into service as HMS Vengeur, but sold her within the year.[1]

Notes, citations, and references

Notes

1. Earlier, he had been master (acting) of Eclair. In Eclair he participated in a notable engagement in which Eclair repulsed the French privateer Grande Decide, and he led a cutting out party that succeeded in capturing a French schooner against heavy odds.[4] Grand Décidé was a privateer under Mathieu Goy, commissioned in Guadeloupe in January 1804. She had a crew of 220 men and was armed with twenty-two 8-pounder guns.[5]
2. Grand Napoléon was a privateer commissioned in Boulogne in March 1806. She under a captain Huret from January to February 1808, and later under a captain Fourmentin.[8] HMS Helena captured her on 19 April 1810.[9]
3. Vengeur was a privateer from Boulogne, commissioned in November 1808, and probably a brig. She was of 120 tons (French; of load), 74 men, and 17 guns, under Jacques Bourgain.[13]

Citations

1. Winfield (2008), p.270.
2. Hepper (1994), p.115.
3. Marshall (1828), Supplement, Part 2, p.402.
4. O'Byrne (1849) Vol. 3, p.1022.
5. Demerliac (2004), №2745, p. 321.
6. "No. 16395". The London Gazette. 11 August 1810. p. 1211.
7. Demerliac (2004), p.322, #2750.
8. Demerliac (2004), №1748, p.243.
9. "No. 16436". The London Gazette. 18 December 1810. p. 2025.
10. Ralfe (1820), p.122.
11. "No. 16223". The London Gazette. 24 January 1809. p. 110.
12. Naval Chronicle, Vol. 21, p.164.
13. Demerliac (2004), №1781, p.246.

References

• Demerliac, Alain (2004). La Marine du Consulat et du Premier Empire: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1800 A 1815 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-903179-30-1.
• Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
• Marshall, John (1823–1835). Royal naval biography, or, Memoirs of the services of all the flag-officers, superannuated rear-admirals, retired-captains, post-captains, and commanders, whose names appeared on the Admiralty list of sea officers at the commencement of the present year 1823, or who have since been promoted ... London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown.
• 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).
• Ralfe, James (1820) The naval chronology of Great Britain; or, An historical account of naval and maritime events from the commencement of the war in 1803 to the end of the year 1816. (Whitmore and Fenn).
• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.