HMS Melampus (1785)

HMS "Melampus" was a Royal Navy fifth rate frigate.

Design and construction

"Melampus" was ordered from James Martin Hillhouse, of Bristol on 17 April 1782 as a 38-gun fifth rate. Laid down in December 1793, she was amended to carry 36 guns by Admiralty order on 11 January 1783, as there had been complaints from captains of earlier 38 gun frigates that the extra guns made the upper gundeck too cramped. "Melampus" was launched on 8 June 1785, and commissioned between 3 July and 8 September 1885 for Ordinary at Plymouth. She was again commissioned between May and 2 July 1790 for Channel service. She had cost £20,785.13.0d to build, with a further £2,985 being spent in 1790 for fitting out.

Early service

Her first captain following her May 1790 commissioning was Charles M. Pole. "Melampus" was paid off again in November 1790, but by 1793 she had been moved to Plymouth, where she was refitted between March and June for £4,726. She recommissioned in April 1793 under the command of Isaac Coffin, and by April the following year she was under Captain Thomas Wells, serving in Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron. During this time "Melampus", in company with HMS "Arethusa" captured the 20-gun "La Babet" on 23 April 1794. She came under the command of Sir Richard Strachan in September 1794, and was subsequently recommissioned in April 1794. She was part of Strachan's force that attacked and destroyed a French convoy in Cartaret Bay on 9 May 1795. On 3 July that year "Melampus" and HMS "Hebe" captured the 4-gun French vessel "Le Vésuve" off St Malo.

Off the French and Irish coasts

"Melampus" came under the command of Captain Graham Moore in August 1796, and on 13 November 1796 she was involved in the capture of the 18-gun "L’Etna", and the destruction of the 18-gun "L’Etonnant" off Barfleur. She was also active in operations against French privateers, capturing the 6-gun "Le Rayon" off the Casquets on 5 October 1797, working in company with HMS "Seahorse" to capture the 18-gun "Le Belliqueuse" off the Irish coast on 16 January 1798, and the 22-gun "La Volage" on 23 January 1798. She was present at the Battle of Tory Island in October that year, fighting in the main action and then subsequently capturing the French frigate "Résolue" in a night action two days later. The following year she captured the 16-gun "Le Mercure" and the 14-gun "Le Papillon", and destroyed the 14-gun privateer "Le Nantois". She was then assigned to the Caribbean, sailing for Jamaica in March 1800, comming under the command of Capt. Thomas Gosselin in November 1801, before being paid off in June 1802.

ervice off America

"Melampus" returned to England, and underwent a large repair at Deptford between August 1803 and October 1804. She was recommissioned in August 1804 under the command of Captain Stephen Poyntz, and commenced cruises off the French coast. On 13 July 1805 she captured the 28-gun Spanish privateer "Hydra", and was also present, whilst serving as part of a squadron under her old commander Sir Richard Strachan, at the destruction of the 74-gun French ship "Impétueux" on 14 September 1806. In September 1807 Captain Edward Hawker took over command, sailing her to North America in 1808, and then to the Leeward Islands in 1809. On 16 January 1809 he captured the 16-gun "Le Colibri" off Barbuda, followed by the 16-gun "Le Bernais" off Guadeloupe on 14 December 1809 while escorting merchant shipping from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She captured the 20-gun privateer "La Fantôme" on 28 May 1810, and was involved in the capture of Guadeloupe, before returning to North America between 1811 and 1812.

Last years

"Melampus" returned to Britain, and by December 1812 was under repair at Isaac Blackburn's yards, at Turnchapel. Work was completed by March 1814, and she was again fitted for sea, between April 1814 and May 1815 at Plymouth Dockyard. She was then sold to the Dutch Government in June 1815 for the sum of £35,364.

References

*
* Winfield, Rif, British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714-1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates, pub Seaforth, 2007, ISBN 1-86176-295-X
* [http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=1455 Ships of the Old Navy]