HMS Nymphe (1812)

HMS ''Nymphe'' was a 38-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, launched on 13 April 1812 at Woolwich Dockyard, and commissioned later that month. She was a ''Lively'' class of 18-pounder frigates, designed by the Surveyor of the Navy, Sir William Rule. It was probably the most successful British frigate design of the Napoleonic Wars, to which fifteen more sister ships would be ordered between 1803 and 1812.

War of 1812

The ''Nymphe's'' first captain was Farmery Predam Epworth. The ''Nymphe'' sailed for North America on 9 July 1812. The French Navy's namesake ''Nymphe'', accompanied by the ''Meduse'' was chased by USS President and USS Congress on 10 October 1812. Whilst on the American station, she took the US privateers ''Montgomery'' on 5 May 1813, and ''Juliana Smith'' on 12 May 1813. Later that year, she took the ''Thomas'' on 29 June 1813 and ''Paragon'' on 14 August 1813.

On 10 October 1813, the ''Nymphe'' gave chase to three frigates and a brig-sloop commanded by Commodore Rodgers that had slipped out of Boston two days prior. At the start of 1814, the ''Nymphe'' was blockading Boston when USS Constitution broke out. Present aboard the ''Nymphe'' was the future historian Henry Edward Napier who kept a journal from March 1814 to September 1814, whilst blockading New England. From June 1814, she was commanded by Captain Joseph Price, and thereafter by Captain Hugh Pigot from October 1814 onwards.

The ''Nymphe's'' crew took part in the Battle of Lake Borgne. The British lost 17 men killed and 77 wounded. then evacuated the wounded. In 1821 the survivors of the flotilla shared in the distribution of head-money arising from the capture of the American gun-boats and sundry bales of cotton.

The ''Nymphe'', accompanied by the sloop-of-war (18 guns), the brig-of-war (12 guns), the schooner (10 guns), and two bomb vessels, was ordered to create a distraction near the Mississippi.Letter from Cochrane to the Admiralty dated January 18, reproduced in stating 'I have not yet received any official report from the Captain of the Nymphe, which ship with the thervessels erald, Aetna, Volcano, Thistle, Pigmywere sent into the Mississippi to create a diversion in that quarter.' The ''Nymphe'' did not proceed up river.James (1818), p. 387 'Of the six vessels ordered up the Mississippi to bombard Fort-St. Philip, the Herald, two bomb vessels, and Thistle and Pigmy only could ascend the river.'

In February 1815, following news of ratification of the peace treaty, the ''Nymphe'' was sent to Jamaica, to fetch the prisoners taken at Lake Borgne, and to repatriate the prisoners.

Later service

From July 1815 to May 1816, the ''Nymphe'' underwent Middling Repair at Portsmouth, and was then laid up in Ordinary. In August 1831, she was fitted as a temporary hospital ship at Portsmouth, and was at Leith by 1834. From December 1835 to May 1837, she was fitted at Chatham as a receiving ship, at a cost of £2,744. She was moored at Sheerness as a receiving ship from 1838 to 1855. She was fitted for use by the Water Police at Sheerness in July 1861. She was altered at Sheerness to a Roman Catholic Chapel from January to March 1863. In accordance with Admiralty Order dated 7 September 1871, she was renamed ''Handy''.

Fate

She was broken up at Chatham, as per Admiralty Order dated 31 December 1874. This was completed by 9 March 1875.

Footnotes

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References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nymphe (1812)
War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom
1812 ships