Hero (1807 ship)

Hero was built in South America around 1795. She first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1807. Captain Barnabas Gardner acquired a letter of marque on 15 June 1807.[3] He then sailed her as a whaler British in the British Southern Whale Fishery. A privateer captured her off Peru in January 1809.

History
United Kingdom
Name:	Hero
Owner:	T.Ayles & Co.
Builder:	South America[1]
Launched:	c.1795
Acquired:	1806
Captured:	January 1809
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	266[2][3] (bm)
Complement:	30[3]
Armament:	16 × 12&6&4-pounder cannons + 4 swivel guns[3] 16 × 4-pounder + 2 × 6-pounder + 8 × 12-pounder guns[2]

Hero entered LR in 1807 with Gardner, master, T.Ayles & Co., owners, and trade London–South Seas.[2]

On 24 June 1807 Hero passed by Portsmouth, as did Memphis, Hitchman, master, and Pandora, Anderson, master, all three whalers bound for the River Plate.[4] On 13 July the three vessels passed by Madeira, still bound for the Plate.[5]

Hero and Pandour arrived at Montevideo on 2 September and sailed for their destinations on 11 September.[6] Memphis never arrived.

The privateer Fleche captured Hero, of London, Gardner, master, in January 1809 off Tombaz, on the coast of Peru. Hero struck after an engagement of an hour-and-a-half.[7] Alternatively, the action may have taken place off Coquimbo.[1]