HMS Incendiary (1782)

HMS Incendiary was an 8-gun fireship of the Royal Navy. She was present at a number of major battles during the French Revolutionary Wars, and captured, or participated in the capture, of several armed vessels. In January 1801 she was in the Gulf of Cadiz where she encountered Admiral Ganteume's squadron. The 80-gun French Navy ship of the line Indivisible received the credit for the actual capture.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Incendiary.

Incendiary
History
Great Britain
Name: HMS Incendiary
Builder: Thomas King, Dover
Launched: 12 August 1782
Honours and
awards:		 Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) with clasps:[1]
"1 June 1794"
"23 June 1795"
Fate: Captured 29 January 1801 and scuttled
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: Tisiphone-class fireship
Tons burthen: 421​ 64⁄94 bm
Length: 108 ft 9 in (33.1 m) (overall); 90 ft 7 in (27.6 m) (keel)
Beam: 29 ft 7 in (9.0 m)
Depth of hold: 9 ft 0 in (2.7 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Complement: 55
Armament: 8 × 12-pounder guns

Early career

Incendiary was commissioned in August 1782, but was paid off within the year. The Navy recommissioned her in September 1790 under Commander William Nowell, but then paid her off again.[2]

French Revolutionary Wars

Between January and April 1793, Incendiary underwent fitting out at Sheerness. The Navy recommissioned her in February under Commander William Hope, for Admiral Howe's fleet.[2]

In February 1794 Commander John Cooke replaced Hope.[2] Incendiary was then among the support ships in the order of battle at the Glorious First of June. In 1847 the Navy awarded the clasp "1 June 1794" to the NGSM to all surviving claimants from the battle.

Main article: Glorious First of June

In June Commander Richard Bagot replaced Cooke, only to have Commander John Draper replace him in April 1795. Incendiary was again among the support ships at the battle at the Île de Groix on 23 June.[2] In 1847 the Navy awarded the clasp " 23rd June 1795" to the NGSM to all surviving claimants from the battle.

Main article: Battle of Groix

In July Commander Thomas Rogers replaced Draper, only to be replaced in August by Commander Henry Digby. In December 1796 Commander George Barker replaced Digby.[2]

In January 1797, Incendiary participated in the aftermath of the French Expédition d'Irlande. On 8 January she was present when Daedalus and Majestic captured the French troopship Suffern off Ushant.[2] Her captors burnt Suffern to avoid weakening their crews to man the prize.

Between July and September 1797 Incendiary was at Portsmouth undergoing refitting. In December 1799 she was under the command of Commander Richard Dunn.[2] On 11 February 1800 Phoenix and Incendiary captured the French privateer Éole off Cape Spartel. Éole was armed with 10 guns and had a crew of 89 men. She was ten days out of Guelon, Spain, and had not taken any prizes.[3]

Main article: Action of 7 April 1800

In April 1800, Incendiary was on blockade duty at Cadiz as part of a squadron under Rear-Admiral John Thomas Duckworth. On 5 April the squadron sighted a Spanish convoy comprising thirteen merchant vessels and three accompanying frigates, and at once gave chase. When the larger British vessels reached Gibraltar they encountered Incendiary, which had made port the previous day with two captured vessels of her own.[4] In all, the small British squadron managed to secure nine merchant vessels and two frigates.[4][5]

Incendiary captured the French privateer brig Egyptienne (or Egyptien) in the Mediterranean on 12 May 1800. Egyptienne was armed with eight guns and had a crew of 50 men.[6][Note 1]

On 26 February 1801 two French brigs arrived at Plymouth carrying wine and brandy. Sprightly and Incendiary had captured them before falling prey to Ganteaume.[8]

Loss

Incendiary, under the command of Captain Richard Dun(n), was crossing the Gulf of Cádiz when at daybreak lookouts sighted two ships of the line. When these vessels did not return the private signals, she fled. Finally, at 11 p.m. on 29 January 1801, Indivisible captured Incendiary. The French removed her crew and scuttled her.[9]

Captain Dunn, of Incendiary, underwent a court martial on 6 May aboard HMS Gladiator for the loss of his vessel. The court acquitted him.[10]

Notes, citations and references

Notes

  1. Head money was paid in 1829, A first-class share was worth £58 16s 11¼d; a fifth-class share, that of a seaman, was worth 8s 5¼d.[7]

Citations

  1. "No. 20939". The London Gazette. 26 January 1849. p. 237.
  2. Winfield (2008), pp. 378-9.
  3. "No. 15253". The London Gazette. 29 April 1800. p. 421.
  4. "No. 15253". The London Gazette. 23 July 1799. p. 422.
  5. "No. 15253". The London Gazette. 23 July 1799. p. 423.
  6. "No. 15301". The London Gazette. 11 October 1800. p. 1169.
  7. "No. 18581". The London Gazette. 2 June 1829. p. 1008.
  8. Naval Chronicle, Vol. 5, p.272.
  9. Hepper (1994), p. 97.
  10. Naval Chronicle, Vol. 5, p.457.

References

  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1844157006.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.
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