HMS Calliope (1808)

HMS ''Calliope'' was a ''Cherokee''-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, launched in 1808. She operated primarily in the North Sea where she captured numerous small merchant vessels and one French privateer. She also was present at the battle of Lake Borgne, near New Orleans. She was broken up in 1829.

Napoleonic Wars

''Calliope'' was commissioned in September 1808 under Commander John M'Kerlie.

In August–September 1809 ''Calliope'' took part in the ill-fated Walcheren Campaign. In particular, she was at the capture of Flushing on 15 August.

On 5 January 1809 ''Calliope'' was in company with off Kingsgate Point near Margate. That evening the two vessels were off Flushing when a heavy gale and snowstorm parted them. ''Pigeon'' grounded and was lost, though almost her entire crew survived.

Admiral Sir Richard Strachan then assigned ''Calliope'' to patrol off the north coast of Holland to Heligoland.

''Calliope'' and shared in the proceeds of the capture on 7 March 1810 of the Danish vessels ''Aggershuns'' and ''Anna Mette Catharina''.

On 13 March ''Calliope'' captured the Danish vessels ''Ellen Sophia'', ''Wagrein'', and ''Hoffnung'', and on 12 April ''Sprinkhorn'', and ''Oppreissring''.

''Calliope'' and shared in the proceeds of the capture on 2 September of the Danish vessels ''Goede Verwagting'' and ''Frou Esje''.

On 25 October 1810 ''Calliope'' was at when she sighted an enemy vessel sailing towards her. The approaching enemy had apparently mistaken ''Calliope'' for a merchant brig; at the enemy came up to about three miles away, she realized her mistake, at which point M'Kerlie gave chase. Eventually ''Calliope'' caught up with her quarry and succeeded in bringing down her mainmast; with the loss of rigging and sails the quarry had to strike. The enemy vessel was the schooner ''Comtesse d'Hambourg'', of eight 12-pounder carronades, six 8-pounder guns, and 51 men. She was seven days out of Dunkirk, but had not captured anything. M'Kerlie reported that ''Calliope'' had had three men wounded. ''Comtesse d'Hambourg'' had no casualties; her crew had fired her guns and then taken refuge below decks.

On 12 March 1811 ''Calliope'' captured the Danish brig ''Silenus''.

On 9 September ''Callioppe'' captured the Dutch dogger ''Morgenstar''.

On 23 May 1813 ''Calliope'' was in company with , , , and the hired armed cutter when they captured the Danish vessels ''Jonge Greenwoldt'', ''Hoffnung'' 1 and 2, and another vessel, name unknown.

On 10 July 1813 ''Calliope'' was part of a squadron that captured eight small vessels in the Elbe and Weser. The squadron included , , , , ''Princess Augusta'', and gunboats.

On 27 October ''Calliope'' was under the command of Commander John M'Kerlie, and in company with . The shared in the proceeds of the capture on that day of ''Frou Magaretha''.

Also on 27 October ''Calliope'' and ''Brevdrageren'' captured the Danish sloop ''Einzigheit''.

Between 10 July and 31 December 1813 the squadron of which ''Calliope'' was a part succeeded in capturing 19 vessels.

Commander John Codd was appointed to ''Calliope'' on 6 December 1813, replacing M'Kerlie. ''Calliope'' remained on the North Sea station.

Under the rules of prize-money, she shared in the proceeds of the capture of the American vessels in the Battle of Lake Borgne on 14 December 1814.

In April 1815 Commander Henry Thompson replaced Codd. Then in September 1815 Commander Alexander Maconochie replaced Thompson, but ''Calliope'' was laid up that month.

Post-war

''Calliope'' underwent repairs at Portsmouth between July and December 1820. Then between April and June 1822 ''Calliope'' underwent fitting to serve as a tender to . In 1825 ''Calliope'' became a tender to , and was under the command of Lieutenant John Powney. While captain of ''Calliope'', he conveyed the Mexican chargé d’affaires, Senor Rocafuerte, with a treaty of commerce, from England to New Spain. The government of the republic rewarded Powney with a table service of plate. He brought home from thence a freight of considerable value, arriving back in England on 27 April 1827.

In spring 1827, ''Calliope'' was found unfit for further service. Lieutenant Powney was lent, with the crew of ''Royal George'', to the Royal yacht . On 26 June 1827 Powney received a promotion to the rank of Commander.

Fate

''Calliope'' was broken up at Portsmouth on 13 August 1829.

Notes

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Calliope (1808)
Cherokee-class brig-sloops
1808 ships
War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom