After the outbreak of war with France and Spain in 1804, the Royal Navy's HMS Polyphemus and HMS Lively were cruising off the coast of Spain and had captured several Spanish ships.
On 7 December a sail was spotted off the coast of Cape Santa Maria.[1]Polyphemus and Lively intercepted and after a short action overhauled the frigate. The Spanish captain seeing that resistance was useless stuck the colours.[2]
Santa Gertrudis a frigate of 40-guns, was armed only with fourteen, and was sailing from Peru and Mexico to Coruna when Polyphemus captured her. Polyphemus and Santa Gertrudis separated in a gale that damaged the Spanish ship, which nonetheless reached Plymouth on 10 January 1805, in tow by the armed defence shipHarriet, which had encountered Santa Gertrudis some days after the gale.[3]
Santa Gertrudis was carrying $1,215,000,[3] and merchandize.[4][Note 1] The prize money was shared, making the captains rich for life.[2]
The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Santa Gertruda, but did not commission the 40-year-old ship. Instead she served as a receiving ship.[6]
References, Notes & Citationsedit
^The amount that a seaman received in a prize money disbursement in May 1808 is difficult to read from the London Gazette, but the amount appears to be on the order of £34 5s 10d, or an amount equivalent to more than a year and a half of salary.[5]
^ abcMarshall, John (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, Or who Have Since Been Promoted Volume 4, Part 2. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown. pp. 225–6.
^ abNorie, J.W (1827). The naval gazetteer, biographer and chronologist; containing a history of the late wars from ... 1793 to ... 1801; and from ... 1803 to 1815, and continued, as to the biographical part to the present time. London: C. Wilson. p. 443.
Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword. ISBN0-85052-835-6.
Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN978-1-86176-246-7.
April 17, 2024
action, december, 1804, part, napoleonic, warsdate7, december, 1804locationoff, cape, santa, mariaresultbritish, victorybelligerents, united, kingdom, spaincommanders, leadersjohn, lawfordgraham, hamondjuan, josé, salomónstrength1, ship, line1, frigate1, friga. Action of 7 December 1804Part of the Napoleonic WarsDate7 December 1804Locationoff Cape Santa MariaResultBritish victoryBelligerents United Kingdom SpainCommanders and leadersJohn LawfordGraham HamondJuan Jose SalomonStrength1 Ship of the line1 Frigate1 FrigateCasualties and losseslight1 frigate captured The action of 7 December 1804 was a minor naval action that took place at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars Royal Navy ship of the line HMS Polyphemus 64 under the command of Captain John Lawford and the frigate HMS Lively 38 under the command of Captain Graham Hamond captured the Spanish frigate Santa Gertrudis off Cape Santa Maria 1 2 After the outbreak of war with France and Spain in 1804 the Royal Navy s HMS Polyphemus and HMS Lively were cruising off the coast of Spain and had captured several Spanish ships On 7 December a sail was spotted off the coast of Cape Santa Maria 1 Polyphemus and Lively intercepted and after a short action overhauled the frigate The Spanish captain seeing that resistance was useless stuck the colours 2 Santa Gertrudis a frigate of 40 guns was armed only with fourteen and was sailing from Peru and Mexico to Coruna when Polyphemus captured her Polyphemus and Santa Gertrudis separated in a gale that damaged the Spanish ship which nonetheless reached Plymouth on 10 January 1805 in tow by the armed defence ship Harriet which had encountered Santa Gertrudis some days after the gale 3 Santa Gertrudis was carrying 1 215 000 3 and merchandize 4 Note 1 The prize money was shared making the captains rich for life 2 The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Santa Gertruda but did not commission the 40 year old ship Instead she served as a receiving ship 6 References Notes amp Citations edit The amount that a seaman received in a prize money disbursement in May 1808 is difficult to read from the London Gazette but the amount appears to be on the order of 34 5s 10d or an amount equivalent to more than a year and a half of salary 5 a b Heathcote p 105 a b c Marshall John 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 Or who Have Since Been Promoted Volume 4 Part 2 Longman Hurst Rees Orme and Brown pp 225 6 a b Norie J W 1827 The naval gazetteer biographer and chronologist containing a history of the late wars from 1793 to 1801 and from 1803 to 1815 and continued as to the biographical part to the present time London C Wilson p 443 Lloyd s List No 16146 The London Gazette 17 May 1808 p 700 Winfield 2008 p 215 SourcesHeathcote Tony 2002 The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 1995 Pen amp Sword ISBN 0 85052 835 6 Winfield Rif 2008 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 1817 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 978 1 86176 246 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Action of 7 December 1804 amp oldid 1119634821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
