HMS Tobago (1805)

HMS ''Tobago'' was a schooner of unknown origin that the British Royal Navy purchased in 1805. In 1806 a French privateer captured her. The Royal Navy recaptured her in 1809 and took her into service as HMS ''Vengeur'' before selling her later that year.

Career

Lieutenant Donald Campbell was appointed 20 February 1805 to command the schooner that the Royal Navy had purchased and named ''Tobago''. Campbell participated in a successful attack made in company with on two merchantmen, lying for protection under the batteries at Barcelona, on the coast of Caraccas. Campbell left ''Tobago'' in July.

Lieutenant John Salomon (acting) assumed command of ''Tobago'' towards the close of 1805. He had commanded the prison ship ''Amboyna''. ''Tobago'' then spent some months sailing between Grenada, Barbados, and Guadeloupe exchanging prisoners of war.

On 6 August ''Tobago'' was in company with , , and the schooner when they captured ''Hercules''.

Capture

Before dawn on 18 October 1806 ''Tobago'' left Dominica where she had been replenishing her water supplies. Soon after, Salmon sighted a brig, joined by a schooner and a sloop, that all made towards ''Tobago''. ''Tobago'' prepared for action, while attempting to steer away from the probably hostile squadron. The enemy closed by 8:30, with the schooner and sloop exchanging fire with ''Tobago''. The French attempted to board, but ''Tobago'' repulsed the attempt. She was not able to escape though, and the French schooner was able to get her jib-boom over ''Tobago''s taffrail and rake her with small arms fire. Salmon received a shot in the head and his men took him below decks. Sub-Lieutenant Nichols Gould assumed command and continued the fight for another half-hour but then, with ''Tobago'' having lost one man killed and 15 wounded (including Salmon), was forced to strike. Her captor was the French privateer ''General Ernouf'', of 16 guns. ''Général Ernouf'' (1805 - 1808), was a Danish 16-gun brig, originally under the command of the notable French privateer captain Alexis Grassin. ' sold for 15,300 francs at Guadeloupe.

On 24 June 1807 Salmon received promotion to the rank of Lieutenant after his release and repatriation.

Recapture

On 24 January 1809 was in the English Channel when she captured ''Vengeur'', of 16 guns and 48 men. ''Vengeur'' was in company with ''Grand Napoleon'', which escaped. ''Vengeur'' herself did not surrender until ''Beagle'' came alongside, though her captain, M. Bourgnie, was wounded. ''Vengeur'' had made no captures.''Naval Chronicle'', Vol. 21, p.164. ''Vengeur'' was the former ''Tobago''.

Disposal

The Royal Navy took ''Vengeur'' into service as HMS ''Vengeur'', but sold her within the year.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tobago (1805)
1800s ships
Schooners of the Royal Navy
Captured ships
Privateer ships