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HMS Gladiator (1783)

HMS Gladiator was a 44-gun fifth-rate Roebuck-class ship of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 20 January 1783 by Henry Adams of Bucklers Hard. She spent her entire career on harbour service, never putting to sea. Even so, her crew earned prize money for the seizure of two Russian and five American ships. Her sessile existence made her an excellent venue for courts-martial and a number of notable ones took place aboard her. She was broken up in 1817.

Replica of HMS Gladiator's figurehead at Buckler's Hard
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Gladiator
BuilderAdams, Bucklers Hard
Launched20 January 1783
FateBroken up in August 1817
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeRoebuck-class ship
Type44-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen882 tons (exact; bm)
Length
  • 140 ft (42.7 m) (overall)
  • 115 ft 1 in (35.1 m) (keel)
Beam37 ft 11+12 in (11.6 m)
Draught
  • 10 ft 10+12 in (3.3 m) (unladen)
  • 14 ft 8 in (4.5 m) (laden)
Depth of hold16 ft 5 in (5.0 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • Lower deck:20 x 18-pounder guns
  • Upper deck:22 x 12-pounder guns
  • FC:2 x 6-pounder guns

Career

Gladiator was commissioned in December 1792 under Lieutenant Samuel Hayter as a convalescent ship.[1] Then, still under Hayter, she was recommissioned in February 1794 as a guardship. In December 1795 she was under the command of Lieutenant Stephen Parker, followed by Lieutenant Emanuel Hungerford from September 1799. She was Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton's flagship from February 1800 to May.[1] Lieutenant Joseph Bromwich then took command of Gladiator, being succeeded in September by Lieutenant John Connolly. From December 1801 she was again a convalescent ship and the flagship for Rear-Admiral Sir John Holloway until April 1802 when she was paid off.[1]

Gladiator was recommissioned in April 1803 under Lieutenant Thomas Harrison. From May she was again Holloway's flagship until June 1804 when she became Rear-Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin's flagship.[1] In February 1807 she came under the command of Lieutenant John Price as a convalescent ship.

On 26 October 1807, Tsar Alexander I of Russia declared war on Great Britain. The official news did not arrive there until 2 December, at which time the British declared an embargo on all Russian vessels in British ports. Gladiator was one of some 70 vessels that shared in the seizure of the 44-gun Russian frigate Speshnoy (Speshnyy), then in Portsmouth harbour. The British seized the Russian storeship Wilhelmina (Vilghemina) at the same time.[2] The Russian vessels were carrying the payroll for Vice-Admiral Dmitry Senyavin’s squadron in the Mediterranean.[3][a]

In 1811 Gladiator was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Dutton and served as flagship for Rear-Admiral William Hargood. Lieutenant-Commander Charles Hewitt took command in July 1812, and Gladiator successively bore the flags of Rear Admirals Hargood, Edward Foote and Peter Halkett.[1]

When news of the outbreak of the War of 1812 reached Britain, the Royal Navy seized all American vessels then in British ports. Gladiator was among the Royal Navy vessels then lying at Spithead or Portsmouth and so entitled to share in the grant for the American ships Belleville, Janus, Aeos, Ganges and Leonidas seized there on 31 July 1812.[5][b]

Courts-martial

Because Gladiator spent her entire career in port, she provided a convenient venue for courts-martial. In 1800 alone she was the venue for over 30.[7] In that year alcohol was causative in many cases, but not all.

On 3 July a court-martial tried John Duncan, seaman on HMS Hermione, for having murdered officers of that ship, or aiding and abetting thereof in September 1797, and then conveying the ship to the enemy at La Guaira. The charges were proven so the court directed that Duncan be hanged.

The court-martial ordered one man hanged for desertion, which was an unusually harsh verdict. However, the man had deserted three times, after having enlisted three times (under different names) and taken the bounty money. Also, there had been a large number of desertions at Portsmouth and the court's intent was to send a message.

On 10 December a court-martial tried John Hubbard and George Hynes, seamen from HMS St George, for an unnatural crime. The court found them guilty and sentenced them to death.

At least three courts-martial involved charges against Admirals. The first occurred between 23 and 26 December 1805, after the Battle of Cape Finisterre (1805). Admiral Robert Calder requested a court-martial to review his decision not to pursue the enemy fleet after the engagement. The court ruled that Calder's failure to pursue was an error of judgement, not a manifestation of cowardice or disaffection, and severely reprimanded him.[8]

The second occurred between 6 and 11 March 1807. The accused was Sir Home Popham and the charge was that he had conducted an unapproved (and notably quixotic and unsuccessful) expedition to Buenos Ayres, leaving his duty station, the Cape of Good Hope, undefended. The charge was found proven and the court reprimanded Sir Home.[9]

The third was the court-martial of Admiral Lord Gambier for his conduct of the Battle of the Basque Roads. Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey, who had commanded "The Fighting Temeraire" at the Battle of Trafalgar, believed that Gambier had missed an opportunity to inflict further damage upon the French fleet. He told Gambier "I never saw a man so unfit for the command of a fleet as Your Lordship." Thomas Cochrane threatened to use his parliamentary vote against Gambier for not committing the fleet to action. Gambier called for a court-martial to examine his conduct. The court, on 26 July 1809 exonerated Gambier. Consequently, neither Harvey nor Cochrane were appointed by the Admiralty to command for the duration of the war.[10]

Another notable court-martial took place on 5–6 February 1810. The court-martial assembled to try Captain Warwick Lake for having marooned a sailor named Robert Jeffery of HMS Recruit on the desert island of Sombrero. Some months after Lake had abandoned the sailor, Lake's commanding officer, Sir Alexander Cochrane, discovered what had happened and immediately ordered Lake to retrieve Jeffery. When Recruit arrived at Sombrero, Jeffery could not be found. (An American ship had picked up Jeffery and he was eventually discovered some three years later in Massachusetts. He returned to Britain where Lake provided compensation in lieu of a suit.) The subsequent court-martial ordered that Lake be dismissed from the service.[11]

On 23 April 1813, Gladiator was the venue for the court-martial of the officers and men of Java for the loss of their ship in the action with the Constitution on 29 December 1812. The court honourably acquitted Lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads and the other surviving officers and men of Java.

What was probably one of the last courts-martial held on Gladiator occurred between 18 and 21 August 1815. The subject was the conduct of Captain Daniel Pring, of Linnet, and the officers and men of the squadron at the Battle of Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain. The court honourably acquitted Captain Pring and the others.

Fate

Gladiator was paid off on 5 October 1815. She was broken up in August 1817.[1]

Notes, citations, and references

Notes

  1. ^ An able seaman on any one of the 70 British vessels received 14sd in prize money.[4]
  2. ^ An ordinary seaman received 4s 1d; the Commander in Chief received £230 10s 8d.[6]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Winfield (2008), p. 128.
  2. ^ "No. 16276". The London Gazette. 15 July 1809. p. 1129.
  3. ^ Tredrea & Sozaev (2010), pp. 198 & 391.
  4. ^ "No. 16195". The London Gazette. 25 October 1808. p. 1460.
  5. ^ "No. 17124". The London Gazette. 2 April 1816. p. 327.
  6. ^ "No. 17135". The London Gazette. 30 October 1821. p. 880.
  7. ^ [1] Naval Database.
  8. ^ Duckworth (1805).
  9. ^ [2] 31 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine History 1793-1844 from the newspapers.
  10. ^ Tracy (2006), p. 150.
  11. ^ Derriman (2006), p. 62.

References

  • Derriman, James (2006). Marooned: the story of a Cornish seaman. Clifton-upon-Teme: Polperro Heritage.
  • Duckworth, Sir John Thomas (1805) Minutes of a court martial, holden on board His Majesty's ship Gladiator, in Portsmouth Harbour: on Thursday, the 25th day of April, 1805, and the two following days, for the trial of Sir J.T. Duckworth, K.B., Vice Admiral of the Blue, on charges exhibited against him by Captain James Anthol Wood, of the Royal Navy. (London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme).
  • Tracy, Nicholas (2006). Who's Who In Nelson's Navy: 200 Naval Heroes. Chatham.
  • Tredrea, John; Sozaev, Eduard (2010). Russian Warships in the Age of Sail 1696–1860. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-058-1.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.

External links

  • HMS Gladiator's career

gladiator, 1783, other, ships, with, same, name, gladiator, gladiator, fifth, rate, roebuck, class, ship, royal, navy, launched, january, 1783, henry, adams, bucklers, hard, spent, entire, career, harbour, service, never, putting, even, crew, earned, prize, mo. For other ships with the same name see HMS Gladiator HMS Gladiator was a 44 gun fifth rate Roebuck class ship of the Royal Navy She was launched on 20 January 1783 by Henry Adams of Bucklers Hard She spent her entire career on harbour service never putting to sea Even so her crew earned prize money for the seizure of two Russian and five American ships Her sessile existence made her an excellent venue for courts martial and a number of notable ones took place aboard her She was broken up in 1817 Replica of HMS Gladiator s figurehead at Buckler s HardHistoryGreat BritainNameHMS GladiatorBuilderAdams Bucklers HardLaunched20 January 1783FateBroken up in August 1817General characteristics 1 Class and typeRoebuck class shipType44 gun fifth rateTons burthen882 tons exact bm Length140 ft 42 7 m overall 115 ft 1 in 35 1 m keel Beam37 ft 11 1 2 in 11 6 m Draught10 ft 10 1 2 in 3 3 m unladen 14 ft 8 in 4 5 m laden Depth of hold16 ft 5 in 5 0 m PropulsionSailsSail planFull rigged shipArmamentLower deck 20 x 18 pounder guns Upper deck 22 x 12 pounder guns FC 2 x 6 pounder guns Contents 1 Career 2 Courts martial 3 Fate 4 Notes citations and references 5 External linksCareer EditGladiator was commissioned in December 1792 under Lieutenant Samuel Hayter as a convalescent ship 1 Then still under Hayter she was recommissioned in February 1794 as a guardship In December 1795 she was under the command of Lieutenant Stephen Parker followed by Lieutenant Emanuel Hungerford from September 1799 She was Rear Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton s flagship from February 1800 to May 1 Lieutenant Joseph Bromwich then took command of Gladiator being succeeded in September by Lieutenant John Connolly From December 1801 she was again a convalescent ship and the flagship for Rear Admiral Sir John Holloway until April 1802 when she was paid off 1 Gladiator was recommissioned in April 1803 under Lieutenant Thomas Harrison From May she was again Holloway s flagship until June 1804 when she became Rear Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin s flagship 1 In February 1807 she came under the command of Lieutenant John Price as a convalescent ship On 26 October 1807 Tsar Alexander I of Russia declared war on Great Britain The official news did not arrive there until 2 December at which time the British declared an embargo on all Russian vessels in British ports Gladiator was one of some 70 vessels that shared in the seizure of the 44 gun Russian frigate Speshnoy Speshnyy then in Portsmouth harbour The British seized the Russian storeship Wilhelmina Vilghemina at the same time 2 The Russian vessels were carrying the payroll for Vice Admiral Dmitry Senyavin s squadron in the Mediterranean 3 a In 1811 Gladiator was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Dutton and served as flagship for Rear Admiral William Hargood Lieutenant Commander Charles Hewitt took command in July 1812 and Gladiator successively bore the flags of Rear Admirals Hargood Edward Foote and Peter Halkett 1 When news of the outbreak of the War of 1812 reached Britain the Royal Navy seized all American vessels then in British ports Gladiator was among the Royal Navy vessels then lying at Spithead or Portsmouth and so entitled to share in the grant for the American ships Belleville Janus Aeos Ganges and Leonidas seized there on 31 July 1812 5 b Courts martial EditBecause Gladiator spent her entire career in port she provided a convenient venue for courts martial In 1800 alone she was the venue for over 30 7 In that year alcohol was causative in many cases but not all On 3 July a court martial tried John Duncan seaman on HMS Hermione for having murdered officers of that ship or aiding and abetting thereof in September 1797 and then conveying the ship to the enemy at La Guaira The charges were proven so the court directed that Duncan be hanged The court martial ordered one man hanged for desertion which was an unusually harsh verdict However the man had deserted three times after having enlisted three times under different names and taken the bounty money Also there had been a large number of desertions at Portsmouth and the court s intent was to send a message On 10 December a court martial tried John Hubbard and George Hynes seamen from HMS St George for an unnatural crime The court found them guilty and sentenced them to death At least three courts martial involved charges against Admirals The first occurred between 23 and 26 December 1805 after the Battle of Cape Finisterre 1805 Admiral Robert Calder requested a court martial to review his decision not to pursue the enemy fleet after the engagement The court ruled that Calder s failure to pursue was an error of judgement not a manifestation of cowardice or disaffection and severely reprimanded him 8 The second occurred between 6 and 11 March 1807 The accused was Sir Home Popham and the charge was that he had conducted an unapproved and notably quixotic and unsuccessful expedition to Buenos Ayres leaving his duty station the Cape of Good Hope undefended The charge was found proven and the court reprimanded Sir Home 9 The third was the court martial of Admiral Lord Gambier for his conduct of the Battle of the Basque Roads Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey who had commanded The Fighting Temeraire at the Battle of Trafalgar believed that Gambier had missed an opportunity to inflict further damage upon the French fleet He told Gambier I never saw a man so unfit for the command of a fleet as Your Lordship Thomas Cochrane threatened to use his parliamentary vote against Gambier for not committing the fleet to action Gambier called for a court martial to examine his conduct The court on 26 July 1809 exonerated Gambier Consequently neither Harvey nor Cochrane were appointed by the Admiralty to command for the duration of the war 10 Another notable court martial took place on 5 6 February 1810 The court martial assembled to try Captain Warwick Lake for having marooned a sailor named Robert Jeffery of HMS Recruit on the desert island of Sombrero Some months after Lake had abandoned the sailor Lake s commanding officer Sir Alexander Cochrane discovered what had happened and immediately ordered Lake to retrieve Jeffery When Recruit arrived at Sombrero Jeffery could not be found An American ship had picked up Jeffery and he was eventually discovered some three years later in Massachusetts He returned to Britain where Lake provided compensation in lieu of a suit The subsequent court martial ordered that Lake be dismissed from the service 11 On 23 April 1813 Gladiator was the venue for the court martial of the officers and men of Java for the loss of their ship in the action with the Constitution on 29 December 1812 The court honourably acquitted Lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads and the other surviving officers and men of Java What was probably one of the last courts martial held on Gladiator occurred between 18 and 21 August 1815 The subject was the conduct of Captain Daniel Pring of Linnet and the officers and men of the squadron at the Battle of Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain The court honourably acquitted Captain Pring and the others Fate EditGladiator was paid off on 5 October 1815 She was broken up in August 1817 1 Notes citations and references EditNotes An able seaman on any one of the 70 British vessels received 14s 7 d in prize money 4 An ordinary seaman received 4s 1d the Commander in Chief received 230 10s 8d 6 Citations a b c d e f g Winfield 2008 p 128 No 16276 The London Gazette 15 July 1809 p 1129 Tredrea amp Sozaev 2010 pp 198 amp 391 No 16195 The London Gazette 25 October 1808 p 1460 No 17124 The London Gazette 2 April 1816 p 327 No 17135 The London Gazette 30 October 1821 p 880 1 Naval Database Duckworth 1805 2 Archived 31 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine History 1793 1844 from the newspapers Tracy 2006 p 150 Derriman 2006 p 62 References Derriman James 2006 Marooned the story of a Cornish seaman Clifton upon Teme Polperro Heritage Duckworth Sir John Thomas 1805 Minutes of a court martial holden on board His Majesty s ship Gladiator in Portsmouth Harbour on Thursday the 25th day of April 1805 and the two following days for the trial of Sir J T Duckworth K B Vice Admiral of the Blue on charges exhibited against him by Captain James Anthol Wood of the Royal Navy London Longman Hurst Rees and Orme Tracy Nicholas 2006 Who s Who In Nelson s Navy 200 Naval Heroes Chatham Tredrea John Sozaev Eduard 2010 Russian Warships in the Age of Sail 1696 1860 Seaforth ISBN 978 1 84832 058 1 Winfield Rif 2008 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 1817 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 1 86176 246 1 External links EditHMS Gladiator s career Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Gladiator 1783 amp oldid 1114087829, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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