Lion (1809 ship)

Lion was a Spanish vessel launched in 1802 that the British came to own in 1809. She was a merchantman and letter of marque. She captured an American privateer in a notable single-ship action in 1813, some months before Lion was wrecked in 1813.

For other ships with the same name, see Lion (ship).

History
Spain
Launched: 1802[1][2]
Fate: Transferred to British ownership c.1809
United Kingdom
Name: Lion
Owner: Elvine & Co.[1][2]
Acquired: c.1809
Fate: Wrecked 1813
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 617,[3] or 618(bm)
Complement: 45[3]
Armament: 1809:20 × 6&9&12*18-pounder cannons + 4 swivel guns[3]

Career

By one account, Lion was built as a frigate for the British government to present as a present to the Turks.[4] Plans changed and she was sold to private interests.[5]

Lion first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1810 with Thompson, master, Elvine & Co., owners, and trade London–the Brazils.[1] Captain James Thompson acquired a letter of marque on 22 September 1809.[3] Lion sailed for the Brazils on 10 July 1810.

Lion, Thompson, master, was last listed in LR in 1813 with Elvine & Co., owners, and trade London–Malta.[2]

Lion was reported to have sailed from Deal on 27 January 1813 bound for a cruize in the China Sea.[6]

On 22 March 1813 Lion captured the American privateer schooner Matilda off Pernambuco in a severe single-ship action. Matilda, of Philadelphia, was armed with 12 guns and had a crew of 50 men. She had been cruizing for 52 days and had taken one prize. Lion suffered two men killed and Captain Thompson and eight men wounded. Matilda lost her captain, first lieutenant, and four men killed, and her second lieutenant and 21 men wounded.[7] By one account, some of Matilda's crew were killed after she had struck.[8]

American records show Matilda, H. Rantin, master, with 11 guns and 104 men. She captured one schooner and one brig. The brig Ranger, John Heard, master, that she captured resisted and had her master killed.[9][5] Ranger, of six guns, had been sailing from Santo Domingo to London with a cargo of coffee and logwood.[10] The capture took place at 29°N 64°W.[11] The schooner Single-Cap, which Matilda had taken arrived at Philadelphia on 22 October 1812.[12]

The American records showed Lion with 28 guns and 120 men.[13] At least one account described Lion as a man-of-war.{{sfnp|Coggeshall|1856|p=148} Another report stated that the action took place off San Salvador and that Dolphin had approached Lyon under the mistaken impression that Lyon was the weaker ship.[14]

Apparently Captain Rantin of Matilda had succeeded in boarding Lion as her British crew had fled below. However, a heavy sea parted the two vessels and the rest of Matilda's crew were unable to follow. Lion's crew rallied and over-powered the American boarders. Lion then approached Matilda, which struck. [5]

The British landed the surviving American crew at Bahia. William, Davis, master, then sailed for New York as a cartel.[15] The British put a prize crew on Matilda. The American privateer Argus recaptured Matilda.[16] Then HMS Revolutionnaire recaptured Matilda on 25 July. Lastly, the American privateer General Armstrong recaptured Matilda.

Fate

LL reported on 8 October 1813 that in mid-July the privateer Lion, Thompson, master, had wrecked between Pernambuco and Bahia, Brazil. Her crew was saved.[17]

Court case

The sequence of captures and recaptures gave rise to a court case over head money due to Lion and Revolutionnaire. On 16 December 1813 the court ruled that head money for 80 men was due to Lion and 15 to Revolutionnaire. The recaptures did not extinguish the military character of the vessel. The court found that Matilda had had 81 men on board, of whom five were killed and 24 wounded. Lion had landed 24, and a surgeon, at Pernambuco. She landed 47 at Salvador where the US consul gave a receipt for the 24 men landed at Pernambuco. The four remaining men of her crew were officers and were released on parole.[18]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. LR (1810), Seq.№L226.
  2. LR (1813) Seq.№L282.
  3. "Letter of Marque, p.73 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. Niles Weekly Register, Volume 4, 7 August 1813, p.374.
  5. Maclay (2004), pp. 433–435.
  6. Lloyd's List (LL) №4741, Ship arrival and departure (SAD) data.
  7. LL №4772.
  8. Niles Weekly Register, Volume 5, 18 September 1813, p.44.
  9. Emmons (1853), p. 186.
  10. Coggeshall (1856), p. 46.
  11. LL №4706.
  12. Lloyd's List №4731.
  13. Emmons (1853), p. 200.
  14. Adams (1890), p. 330.
  15. Niles Weekly Register, Volume 4, 31 July 1813, p.354.
  16. Lloyd's List (LL) №4791.
  17. LL №4811.
  18. Reports... (1853), pp.367-368.

References

  • Adams, Henry (1890). History of the United States of America During the Second Administration of James Madison. 7. C. Scribner's sons.
  • Coggeshall, George (1856). History of the American Privateers, and Letters-Of-Marque. New York.
  • Emmons, George Foster (1853). The navy of the United States, from the commencement, 1775 to 1853; with a brief history of each vessel’s service and fate ... Comp. by Lieut. George F. Emmons ... under the authority of the Navy Dept. To which is added a list of private armed vessels, fitted out under the American flag ... also a list of the revenue and coast survey vessels, and principal ocean steamers, belonging to citizens of the United States in 1850. Washington: Gideon & Co.
  • Maclay, Edgar Stanton (2004) [1899]. A History of American Privateers.
  • Reports of Cases Argued and Determined, 1798-1850, Volume 6. (1853) Great Britain, Courts.
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