French Frigate Iphigénie (1810)

The French frigate ''Iphigénie'' was a of a nominal 44 guns, launched in 1810. The British captured her in 1814. The British named her HMS ''Palma'', and then renamed her HMS ''Gloire''. She was sold in 1817, never having been commissioned into the Royal Navy.

In 1813, along with ''Alcmène'', she served at Cherbourg, in the squadron of contre-amiral Amable Troude, to protect the harbour.

Capture

In early 1814, Commander Jean-Léon Émeric was put in charge of a two-frigate squadron comprising ''Iphigénie'' and ''Alcmène'', under Commander Ducrest de Villeneuve, for a cruise between the Azores and Cap-Vert, off Guinea.

On 16 January 1814, the British 74-gun third-rate ship of the line , together with her prize, the ex-French letter of marque brig ''Jason'', and sixth-rate post ship were in company when they spotted ''Alcmène'' and ''Iphigénie''. After a chase that left ''Cyane'' far behind, ''Venerable'' captured ''Alcmène'' after a fight. ''Venerable'' lost two men dead and four wounded, while the French lost 32 dead and 50 wounded.''Naval Chronicle'', Vol. 31, pp. 245–5.

''Jason'' and ''Cyane'' then pursued ''Iphigénie'' and initially fired on her but broke off the engagement because they were outgunned. ''Cyane'' continued the chase for over three days until ''Venerable'' was able to rejoin the fight, after having sailed 153 miles in the direction she believed that ''Iphigénie'' had taken. On 20 January, after a 19-hour chase - amounting in all to a four-day chase for ''Iphigénie'' - ''Venerable'' captured the quarry, having again left ''Cyane'' behind. In order to try to gain speed, ''Iphigénie'' cast off her anchors and threw her boats overboard. She apparently did not resist after ''Venerable'' came up. Before meeting up with the British ships, the two French vessels had taken some eight prizes.James & Chamier (1837), Vol. 6, pp. 259–61. The action resulted in the award in 1847, to any surviving claimants, of the Naval General Service Medal with clasps "Venerable 16 Jany 1814" and "Cyane 16 Jany. 1814".

''Venerable'' was able to locate ''Iphigénie'' because Commander Ducrest de Villeneuve of ''Alcmène'' was so angry at Captain Émeric, the senior French commander, for not having come alongside ''Venerable'' to board from the other side, that he essentially revealed the rendezvous instructions to Admiral Durham. (''Venerable'' was Durham's flagship). When some prisoners from ''Iphigénie''s crew were brought on ''Venerable'', crew from ''Alcmène'' too were enraged. Durham had to station Royal Marines between them, with fixed bayonets, to prevent fighting from breaking out.

Fate

A prize crew brought ''Iphigénie'' into Plymouth on 23 February 1814, and she was laid up in ordinary. ''Iphigénie'' was moved to Spithead in July. Capt. James A. Worth was in command of her, though she was never commissioned. The Admiralty named her ''Palma'' and then renamed her ''Gloire'' on 8 November. She was sold in September 1817 to a Mr. Freake for £1,750.

Notes

Citations

References

* Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations; divisions et stations navales; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome deuxième : BB4 1 à 482 (1790-1826

*James, William & Frederick Chamier (1837) ''The naval history of Great Britain: from the declaration of war by France in 1793 to the accession of George IV''. (London: R. Bentley).
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Iphigenie (1810)
Frigates of the Royal Navy
1810 ships
Age of Sail frigates of France
Ships built in France
Frigates of the French Navy
Captured ships