HMS Hind (1785)

HMS ''Hind'' was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy.

Design

The ship was a revival of the ''Coventry'' class, designed in 1756 by Sir Thomas Slade as a development of his of 1748, "with such alterations as may tend to the better stowing of men and carrying for guns." The design was slightly modified for the ''Hind'' and its projected sistership ''Laurel'' (which was cancelled after the builder went bankrupt).

Career

After launch, ''Hind'' was completed at Deptford Dockyard from 1785 until 24 November 1787 but was not commissioned until May 1790, when she went into service under the command of Captain Alexander Cochrane until 1793. The captain's nephew, Thomas Cochrane saw his first sea service under his uncle's captaincy.

French Revolutionary Wars

captured the French privateer ''Espoir'', of ten guns, on 2 March 1793. By agreement, ''Crescent'' shared the bounty bill with ''Hind''.

Under Cochrane, ''Hind'' captured a number of vessels in 1793:
*Merchant vessels: ''Superb'', from Guadaloupe for Havre, and ''Jeune Charlotte'', from Toulon for Brest.
*Privateers:Winfield (2008), p. 218. ''Egalite'' (8 guns; April), ''Aimiable Marie'' (10 guns; March), ''Custein'' (or ''Custine''; February), ''Taquin'' (or ''Tarquin''; 16 guns; April), ''Georgette'' (May), and ''Liberté'' (12 guns; April)
*Recaptured British vessels: ''Paspebiac'', and the sloop ''Mary''.

''Georgette'' was under the command of Jean-Pierre Edet. She came from Nantes and was of 300 tons (French; "of load"). She was armed with sixteen 4 and 6-pounder guns, and had a crew of 120 men. She had captured a small brig before ''Hind'' captured her.

In 1794 ''Hind'' was commanded by Captain Philip Durham, in 1795 Captain Philip Lee, and in 1796 Captain John Bazely. In June 1797 command passed to Captain Joseph Larcom, who remained with her until she paid off from service following the Peace of Amiens. While Larcom was in command, ''Hind'' captured the Spanish privateer ''Aimable Juana'' on 23 April 1798.

In January 1796 ''Hind'' captured the 97 ton (bm), ''Favori'' at (). ''Favori'' had been launched in New England in 1778, and was disguised as an American vessel before she was captured.

War of the Second Coalition:On 10 April, 1799 she and sloop HMS Swan captured American merchant sloop "Fair Columbian" off the coast of Florida (). Eventually Fair Columbian's crew reasserted control of the ship and brought her into Baltimore.

Napoleonic Wars

She was refitted at Frindsbury in 1804–1805, and recommissioned at Chatham in June 1805 under Captain Francis Fane for Mediterranean service. In April 1808 command passed to Captain Richard Vincent, then in 1809 Captain John Lumley.

''Hind'' captured the privateer ''Téméraire'', of two guns and 30 men on 29 September 1809 off Milazzo. She was four days out of Naples and had not made any captures.

In 1810 Captain Spelman SwaineFor more on Spelman Swaine see: replaced Lumley.

Fate

She was taken to pieces at Deptford in July 1811.

Notes

Citations

References

*
* Robert Gardiner, ''The First Frigates'', Conway Maritime Press, London 1992. .
*
* David Lyon, ''The Sailing Navy List'', Conway Maritime Press, London 1993. .
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External links

Ships of the Old Navy

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hind (1785)
1785 ships
Sixth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy
Ships built in Kent