''Friedland'' was the name-ship of her class of French ''
Illyrien'' or
''Friedland''-class brig
A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the ...
. She was built at Venice and launched in June 1807. The
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
captured her a year later and took her into service as HMS ''Delight''. She served in the Mediterranean and was sold in 1814.
''Friedland''
''Friedland'' initially bore the name ''Illyrien'', but had her name changed to ''Vendicare'' in early 1807. Then she received a second name change, to ''Friedland'', after launch, to commemorate the Emperor
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
's victory on 14 June at the battle of Friedland.
''Friedland'' was at
Ancona
Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic S ...
in December 1807, and at Corfu between 1807 and 1808. She is recorded as being at Santa Maria di Leuca in March 1808.
Capture
On 26 March 1808, ''Friedland'' was on her way to Corfu with Commodore Don Amilcar Paolucci, commander in chief of the Italian Marine, and Knight of the Iron Crown,
[ when she encountered two British warships that were part of the British blockade of the island. The 64-gun ]third rate
In the rating system of the Royal Navy, a third rate was a ship of the line which from the 1720s mounted between 64 and 80 guns, typically built with two gun decks (thus the related term two-decker). Years of experience proved that the third r ...
and the 38-gun frigate captured ''Friedland'' off Cape Blanco, at the south end of Corfu. Captain Richard Mowbray of ''Active'' took possession of ''Friedland'' after a chase of several hours. ''Friedland'' might have escaped had she not lost her topmast. Her captors described her as one year old, and armed with 16 French 12-pounder guns. ''Active'' took her prize to Malta, together with the prisoners, who included Commodore Paolucci, and her captain, Angelo Thomasi.
HMS ''Delight''
''Friedland'' was commissioned in May as HMS ''Delight'' in the Mediterranean under Commander John Brett Purvis.
On 28 November 1808 ''Delight'', ''Active'', the supply ship , and the hired armed ship ''Lord Eldon'' escorted a convoy of 50 vessels out of Malta, bound for Gibraltar, Lisbon, and London. However, contrary winds forced about 40 merchantmen, and the escorts to return to Malta within two weeks.
Purvis received promotion to post-captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of Captain (Royal Navy), captain in the Royal Navy.
The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:
* Officers in command of a naval vessel, who were (and still are) ...
on 16 September 1809. In December Commander Lord Balgonie
Earl of Leven (pronounced "''Lee''-ven") is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1641 for Alexander Leslie. He was succeeded by his grandson Alexander, who was in turn followed by his daughters Margaret and Catherine (who are usu ...
took command of ''Delight''. ''Delight'' arrived at Portsmouth on 25 July 1810. She apparently remained in service until 1812. Lord Balgonie was promoted to post-captain on 28 February 1812.
Fate
''Delight'' was in ordinary
Ordinary or The Ordinary often refer to:
Music
* ''Ordinary'' (EP) (2015), by South Korean group Beast
* ''Ordinary'' (Every Little Thing album) (2011)
* "Ordinary" (Two Door Cinema Club song) (2016)
* "Ordinary" (Wayne Brady song) (2008)
* ...
in 1812, at Chatham, and apparently remained in ordinary until 1814.
Notes
Citations
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedland (1807)
1807 ships
Age of Sail corvettes of France
Ships built in Venice
Captured ships
Brigs of the Royal Navy