HMS ''Levant'' was a 20-gun
''Cyrus''-class sixth rate
In the rating system of the Royal Navy used to categorise sailing warships, a sixth-rate was the designation for small warships mounting between 20 and 28 carriage-mounted guns on a single deck, sometimes with smaller guns on the upper works and ...
of 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 ...
built by William Courtney, of
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
. She was one of five British warships that captured or destroyed during the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
. She was soon recaptured, and after 1817 was reclassified as a
sloop of war
In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term ''sloop-of-war'' enc ...
. She was broken up in 1820.
Career
''Levant'' was one of 16 ships of the ''Cyrus'' class that had the underwater lines of the French
prize
A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people (such as sporting teams and organizations) to recognize and reward their actions and achievements. ''Bonne Citoyenne'' (though slightly reduced). ''Levant'' was launched in December 1813. Her first commander was Captain Alexander Jones (younger brother of
Captain Charles Jones) who was replaced by George Douglas on 28 April 1814. Under Douglas, ''Levant'' travelled from England to
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
and then to
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
.
While escorting two British convoys together with , a sixth-rate vessel, the two warships were attacked by USS ''Constitution'' under Captain
Charles Stewart on 20 February 1815. Although peace had already been declared ''Constitution'' had not received official information about the
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent () was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. It took effect in February 1815. Both sides signed it on December 24, 1814, in the city of Ghent, United Netherlands (now in ...
. ''Cyane'' and ''Levant'' were able to fire heavier broadsides than ''Constitution'' but were still outgunned by range and gun power by the American vessel. With excellent seamanship ''Constitution'' outmanoeuvred both ships and forced ''Cyane'' to surrender first. After placing a prize crew on board ''Cyane'', Stewart chased ''Levant'' down. The sloop surrendered after two broadsides fired by the American vessel and was also taken a prize. With the help of the British prisoners all three ships set course for the
Cape Verde Islands
, national_anthem = ()
, official_languages = Portuguese
, national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole
, capital = Praia
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, demonym ...
.
A British squadron under
Commodore
Commodore may refer to:
Ranks
* Commodore (rank), a naval rank
** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom
** Commodore (United States)
** Commodore (Canada)
** Commodore (Finland)
** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore''
* Air commodore, a ...
George Collier
Vice Admiral Sir George Collier (11 May 1732 – 6 April 1795) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars. As commander of the fourth-rate shi ...
eventually sighted ''Constitution'' in heavy weather off
Porto Praya
Praia (, Portuguese for "beach") is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde.[Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...]
while he searched for ''Constitution''. However, she had returned to port, thus avoiding an engagement.
Because
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
was unable to maintain its neutrality on its (former) soil the Portuguese government compensated the United States for the loss of ''Levant''.
Captain
John Sheridan commanded ''Levant'' from June 1815 until she was laid up in
Chatham
Chatham may refer to:
Places and jurisdictions Canada
* Chatham Islands (British Columbia)
* Chatham Sound, British Columbia
* Chatham, New Brunswick, a former town, now a neighbourhood of Miramichi
* Chatham (electoral district), New Brunswic ...
in November that year.
Fate
''Levant'' was intended to be repaired and returned to service in August 1820, but this was not carried out and she was broken up by 9 October 1820. Her captured ensign was on display at Mahan Hall at the
U.S. Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of ...
, but was removed on 27 February 2018 for preservation.
Notes
Citations
References
*Gossett, William Patrick (1986) ''The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900''. (London: Mansell).
*
* Martin, Tyrone G. (2003) ''A Most Fortunate Ship. A Narrative History Of Old Ironsides''. Revised Edition.
*
External links
*
USS Constitution MuseumAge of Nelson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levant (1813)
1813 ships
Ships built in England
Cyrus-class post ships
Captured ships
War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom