HMS Daring (1804)

HMS ''Daring'' was a 12-gun gun-brig of the ''Archer'' class of the British Royal Navy. She was launched in 1804 and served in the Channel and North Sea, capturing a number of merchant vessels. In 1813 she was serving on the West Africa Station when her crew had to scuttle her to prevent her capture.

History

''Daring'' was built under contract by Jabez Bailey, of Ipswich, and launched in October 1804. Lieutenant Charles Ormsby commissioned her in November 1804. On 13 August 1805 ''Daring'' detained the Danish ship ''Venners Aventure''. ''Vennerus Aventura'', Neilson, master, was sailing from Amsterdam to Naples. ''Daring'' sent her into Cowes.

Lieutenant George Hayes took command in November 1805. serving in the Channel and the North Sea. On 8 April 1806 ''Daring'' shared with the and in the capture of ''Minerva''. ''Daring'' and ''Hardy'' also shared the capture of ''Anna Charlotta'', ''Frederica de Liefde'', and ''Pomona'' on 7, 8, and 9 April. On the 9th, ''Daring'' sent ''Anna Charlotta'', Smith, master, and ''Delesse'', Ball, master, from Bordeaux, into Plymouth.''LL'', №4043. Accessed 30 July 2019.
/ref> ''Daring'' also sent the brig ''Bachus'', sailing from Baltimore to Hamburg, into Portsmouth. A few days later, ''Daring'' sent ''Josephine'', which had been sailing from Bordeaux to Altona, into Portsmouth too. In mid-August, ''Daring'' sent into Portsmouth "Alexander, O'thman, master, which had been sailing from Bordeaux to Cherbourg."

About a year later, towards the end of August 1807, ''Daring'' sent into Portsmouth ''Slark'', which had been sailing from Oporto to Tonningen. On 31 August ''Daring'' captured ''Odin''. ''Oden'', a galliot from Arundahl, came into Portsmouth on 4 September.

In 22 November 1808 ''Daring'' and recaptured the schooner ''Hope''. ''Hope'', Allen, master, had been sailing from Plymouth to London when was first captured; she arrived at Portsmouth on the 23rd. That same day, ''Daring'' was in company with when they captured ''Espiegle''.

In August 1809, ''Daring'' served in the Walcheren Campaign, in the West Scheldt, being detached under Sir Home Popham to take soundings. ''Daring'' was at the siege of Flushing, and was instrumental in saving the brigs and after they had grounded within point-blank shot of the enemy.

On 29 April 1810, ''Daring'' was in company with ''Armide'' at the captured of the ''Aimable Betsie''. On 6 November ''Daring'' escorted a convoy from Plymouth. Hayes left ''Daring'' in November 1810.

In December 1810 she was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Allen.

Lieutenant Campbell replace Allen in 1811, but Lieutenant William R. Pascoe replaced Campbell in June. He recommissioned her as she was fitting out at Sheerness before proceeding to the coast of West Africa. Pascoe and ''Daring'' sailed for West Africa in March 1812. Towards the later end of March, ''Daring'' had to put into Vigo. She was convoying three transport ships laden with Government stores for Africa, and one of them, ''Alfred'', Chapman, master, had sprung a leak.

On 9 June ''Daring'' captured the ship ''Esperanza''. Later, on 30 June, ''Daring'' captured the schooner ''Centinella''. Then on 5 July ''Daring'' captured the brig ''St Carlos''.

Fate

On 27 January 1813 Pascoe was forced to run ''Daring'' aground on Tamara (one of the Iles de Los off Guinea), and burn her to avoid the French frigates and capturing her. Pascoe had approached a group of three ships believing them to be Brazilian slavers. When he discovered that the three were two French frigates and their prize, he attempted to flee, but was unable to do so. Rather than surrendering ''Daring'' Pascoe scuttled her. Pascoe and his crew then escaped to Sierra Leone in several small trading boats.

Pascoe arrived in the Sierra Leone River with the greater part of his crew on 28 January and reported to Captain Frederick Paul Irby of .

Irby sent Pascoe back in a small schooner to reconnoitre. Pascoe reported back that the two frigates were unloading a Portuguese prize before preparing to sail to intercept British home-bound trade.

After Pascoe returned on 4 February he found that a cartel had arrived with the master and crew of ''Daring''. Captain Irby, his crew depleted by sickness but reinforced by the men from ''Daring'', sailed to attack the French vessels, hoping that on the way he might join up with any Royal Navy vessels in the area. He eventually engaged ''Aréthuse'', which was anchored well to the north of ''Rubis'', and which came out to meet him. ''Rubis'' did not join the fight; unbeknownst to Irby, she had struck a rock that had disabled her). ''Amelia'' engaged ''Aréthuse'' for four hours and suffered heavy casualties - 51 killed (including Lieutenant Pascoe), and 95 wounded. The two vessels then disengaged and ''Amelia'' sailed off.

Although she had been badly damaged, ''Amelia'' returned to Britain via Madeira. ''Aréthuse'' returned to the stranded ''Rubis''. The French burnt ''Rubis'' on 8 February when it turned out that they could not refloat her.

Citations

References

*
*
*
*
* Age of Nelson website �
Age of Nelson

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daring (1804)
Brigs of the Royal Navy
1804 ships
Maritime incidents in 1813
Ships built in England