For other ships with the same name, see HMS Pylades.
HMS Pylades was an 18-gun Dutch-built brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, launched in 1781. She was originally built as the privateerHercules, which in November the British captured. She went on to serve during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War and the subsequent years of peace.
The privateer was one of two captured in the North Sea at the same time, both of which the Royal Navy took into service. Pylades went on to serve under several commanders, spending most of her career sailing in the English Channel. She did not survive to see service in the French Revolutionary Wars, having been sold for breaking up in March 1790.
Hercules was built at Amsterdam in 1781, to prey on British shipping during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War.[1] On 30 November she sailed from the Texel with another large privateer, Mars.[2] The vessels were commanded by a father and son team named Hogenboome; the father had been active as a privateer operating out of Flushing during the Seven Years' War under the alias John Hardapple.[3] The two vessels were estimated to have cost upwards of £20,000.[3] Their career as privateers was short-lived. They managed to capture only a single British fishing smack before the 40-gun frigateHMS Artois, under the command of CaptainJohn MacBride, sighted them off Flamborough Head at 10 o'clock in the morning on 3 December.[2]
Captureedit
The two Dutch vessels initially approached Artois, apparently appearing 'confident'.[3] The action began at 2pm, with one privateer standing off Artois's bow, while the other attacked her quarter. MacBride concentrated his fire on the ship on his quarter, forcing her to break away, while he turned his attention to the ship off his bow.[3] After thirty minutes this ship surrendered, while the other attempted to escape. MacBride wore around and chased her down, at which she struck her colours.[3] MacBride wrote in his report that the two ships mounted '24 nine-pounders and ten cohorns each.'[3] He described them as 'perfectly new, and alike; sail as fast as the Artois, and are the completest privateers I ever saw.'[3]Hercules was described as carrying 164 men, of whom thirteen were killed and twenty were wounded.[2][4]Artois had one man killed and six wounded in the whole engagement.[2] Impressed by MacBride's report, the Admiralty approved their purchase for service with the Royal Navy, and she was registered as the sloop HMS Pylades on 16 February 1782.[1][5] MacBride's report, though it convinced the Admiralty to acquire the two ships, was apparently greeted with 'much mirth, on account of the singular manner in which it was worded'.[6]
Royal Navy serviceedit
Pylades was fitted out at Deptford between February and 16 October 1782, with her armament consisting of 18 short nine-pounders and ten ½-pounder swivel guns.[1] The cost for her to be fitted and coppered came to £3,719 5s 7d.[1]Pylades was commissioned in August 1782 under her first captain, Lieutenant John Osborn. Osborn was promoted to the rank of master and commander in January 1783, and remained in command until 1786.[1] During this time Pylades was paid off in May 1783 but recommissioned that same month under Osborn with orders to patrol in the Western Approaches.[1]
On 6 October 1785, Pylades stationed a cutter off the Ram Head to intercept any smuggling boats that might attempt to land. When she discovered a small cutter lying-to, and several boats near the unknown vessel, Pylades's boat rowed alongside. At this point, the smugglers fired a swivel that killed one of Pylades's men, and escaped. The Crown offered a pardon to anyone (other than the actual perpetrator himself) to any of the smugglers that provided information that would result in the arrest of the perpetrator and the other smugglers. The Crown also offered a reward of £100 to the same end.[7]
Osborn left Pylades in 1786. Pylades recommissioned in November that year under her new captain, Commander Davidge Gould, who was stationed off the Start.[1]
Fateedit
Commander John Stevens Hall became Pylades's new captain in or around March 1789, and served as such until the sloop was paid off in December that year.[1]Pylades was then sold for £27 12s 6d and was broken up at Plymouth by 23 March 1790.[1][5]
Campbell, John (1818). Naval History of Great Britain: Including the History and Lives of the British Admirals. Vol. 7. Baldwyn and Co.
Charnock, John (1798). Biographia Navalis; or, Impartial Memoirs of the Lives ... of Officers of the Navy of Great Britain from ... 1660. Vol. 6. London: R. Fauldner.
The Naval Chronicle. Vol. 19. London: J. Gold. 1808.
Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN978-1-86176-295-5.
November 28, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see HMS Pylades HMS Pylades was an 18 gun Dutch built brig sloop of the Royal Navy launched in 1781 She was originally built as the privateer Hercules which in November the British captured She went on to serve during the Fourth Anglo Dutch War and the subsequent years of peace HistoryDutch RepublicNameHerculesBuilderAmsterdamLaunched1781CapturedDecember 1781Great BritainNameHMS PyladesAcquired3 December 1781FateBroken up by 23 March 1790General characteristicsClass and type18 gun brig sloopTons burthen399 12 94 bm Length90 ft 2 in 27 5 m overall 81 ft 8 in 24 9 m keel Beam30 ft 4 in 9 2 m Depth of hold12 ft 3 66 m Sail planBrigComplement125Armament18 x short 9 pounder guns 12 x pdr swivel gunsThe privateer was one of two captured in the North Sea at the same time both of which the Royal Navy took into service Pylades went on to serve under several commanders spending most of her career sailing in the English Channel She did not survive to see service in the French Revolutionary Wars having been sold for breaking up in March 1790 Contents 1 Dutch service 2 Capture 3 Royal Navy service 4 Fate 5 Citations 6 ReferencesDutch service editHercules was built at Amsterdam in 1781 to prey on British shipping during the Fourth Anglo Dutch War 1 On 30 November she sailed from the Texel with another large privateer Mars 2 The vessels were commanded by a father and son team named Hogenboome the father had been active as a privateer operating out of Flushing during the Seven Years War under the alias John Hardapple 3 The two vessels were estimated to have cost upwards of 20 000 3 Their career as privateers was short lived They managed to capture only a single British fishing smack before the 40 gun frigate HMS Artois under the command of Captain John MacBride sighted them off Flamborough Head at 10 o clock in the morning on 3 December 2 Capture editThe two Dutch vessels initially approached Artois apparently appearing confident 3 The action began at 2pm with one privateer standing off Artois s bow while the other attacked her quarter MacBride concentrated his fire on the ship on his quarter forcing her to break away while he turned his attention to the ship off his bow 3 After thirty minutes this ship surrendered while the other attempted to escape MacBride wore around and chased her down at which she struck her colours 3 MacBride wrote in his report that the two ships mounted 24 nine pounders and ten cohorns each 3 He described them as perfectly new and alike sail as fast as the Artois and are the completest privateers I ever saw 3 Hercules was described as carrying 164 men of whom thirteen were killed and twenty were wounded 2 4 Artois had one man killed and six wounded in the whole engagement 2 Impressed by MacBride s report the Admiralty approved their purchase for service with the Royal Navy and she was registered as the sloop HMS Pylades on 16 February 1782 1 5 MacBride s report though it convinced the Admiralty to acquire the two ships was apparently greeted with much mirth on account of the singular manner in which it was worded 6 Royal Navy service editPylades was fitted out at Deptford between February and 16 October 1782 with her armament consisting of 18 short nine pounders and ten pounder swivel guns 1 The cost for her to be fitted and coppered came to 3 719 5s 7d 1 Pylades was commissioned in August 1782 under her first captain Lieutenant John Osborn Osborn was promoted to the rank of master and commander in January 1783 and remained in command until 1786 1 During this time Pylades was paid off in May 1783 but recommissioned that same month under Osborn with orders to patrol in the Western Approaches 1 On 6 October 1785 Pylades stationed a cutter off the Ram Head to intercept any smuggling boats that might attempt to land When she discovered a small cutter lying to and several boats near the unknown vessel Pylades s boat rowed alongside At this point the smugglers fired a swivel that killed one of Pylades s men and escaped The Crown offered a pardon to anyone other than the actual perpetrator himself to any of the smugglers that provided information that would result in the arrest of the perpetrator and the other smugglers The Crown also offered a reward of 100 to the same end 7 Osborn left Pylades in 1786 Pylades recommissioned in November that year under her new captain Commander Davidge Gould who was stationed off the Start 1 Fate editCommander John Stevens Hall became Pylades s new captain in or around March 1789 and served as such until the sloop was paid off in December that year 1 Pylades was then sold for 27 12s 6d and was broken up at Plymouth by 23 March 1790 1 5 Citations edit a b c d e f g h i Winfield 2007 p 328 a b c d Charnock 1798 p 561 a b c d e f g The Naval Chronicle p 270 Campbell 1818 p 279 a b Colledge amp Warlow 2006 p 281 Charnock 1798 p 560 No 12722 The London Gazette 31 January 1786 p 46 References editCampbell John 1818 Naval History of Great Britain Including the History and Lives of the British Admirals Vol 7 Baldwyn and Co Charnock John 1798 Biographia Navalis or Impartial Memoirs of the Lives of Officers of the Navy of Great Britain from 1660 Vol 6 London R Fauldner Clowes William Laird 1997 1900 The Royal Navy A History from the Earliest Times to 1900 Volume IV Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 013 5 Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 The Naval Chronicle Vol 19 London J Gold 1808 Winfield Rif 2007 British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714 1792 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 978 1 86176 295 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Pylades 1781 amp oldid 1167677506, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
