HMS Courageux (1800)

HMS Courageux was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 26 March 1800 at Deptford. She was designed by Sir John Henslow as one of the large class 74-gun ships, and was the only ship built to her draught. Unlike the middling and common class 74-gun ships, which carried 18-pounder long guns, as a large 74-gun ship, Courageux carried 24-pounders on her upper gun deck.[1]

Plan of HMS Courageux by John Henslow in 1797
History
UK
Name:	HMS Courageux
Ordered:	6 November 1794
Builder:	Deptford Dockyard
Laid down:	October 1797
Launched:	26 March 1800
Fate:	Broken up, 1832
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	74-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1772 (bm)
Length:	181 ft (55.2 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	47 ft 1 in (14.4 m)
Depth of hold:	19 ft 10 in (6.0 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Armament:	Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns Upper gundeck: 30 × 24-pounder guns QD: 12 × 9-pounder guns Fc: 4 × 9-pounder guns

At the end of January 1801, a French squadron under Admiral Honoré Ganteaume comprising seven ships-of-the-line and two frigates, and carrying 5,000 troops, escaped from the port of Brest. It was spotted on 27 January by a British frigate which conveyed the news to Plymouth on 3 February. Believing its destination to be the West Indies, a similar sized force, under Sir Robert Calder was sent in pursuit. As one of the fastest two-deckers available at the time, Courageux was selected to take part in this unnecessary expedition.[2]

On 1 January 1804 a convoy of leaving Portsmouth for the West Indies. On 1 February 43 vessels returned to Plymouth, together with their escort, Courageux.[3]

In mid-1804, Courageaux escorted a convoy from St Helena back to Britain. The convoy consisted of the East Indiamen City of London, Ceylon, Calcutta, and Wyndham, two vessels from the South Seas, Lively and Vulture, and the ship Rolla, which had transported convicts to New South Wales.[4][Note 1] On the way the convoy ran into severe weather with the result that Prince of Wales, which had also left St Helena with the rest, foundered with the loss of all on board; this had been her maiden voyage.[4][6]

Sir Richard Strachan's Action - 4 November 1805, Courageaux seen second right

On 4–5 November 1805 she was involved in the Battle of Cape Ortegal (Sir Richard Strachan's Action).

In 1806 and 1807 Courageux is known to have been under the command of James Bissett.[7]

Shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812, on 12 August, Courageaux shared in the seizure of several American vessels: Cuba, Caliban, Edward, Galen, Halcyon, and Cygnet.[Note 2]