HMS Arethusa (1781)

HMS "Arethusa" was a British Royal Navy single-deck fifth-rate frigate of 38 guns built at Bristol in 1781.

"Arethusa" was part of a fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Sir Henry Harvey (aboard the "Prince of Wales") that captured the Spanish-held island of Trinidad in the Caribbean in February 1797.

On April 17th of that year, "Arethusa", along with 60 other warships and transports, appeared off the Spanish colonial port city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fleet landed a 7,000-man invasion force of Royal Marines, German mercenaries and black militia troops from the island of Tobago, commanded by General Sir Ralph Abercromby (also spelled "Abercrombie"). However, the British were forced to withdraw after two weeks due to the resolute Spanish defence.

References

* Sir Ralph Abercrombie's Expedition, The Times, June 9, 1797.
* Abercrombie to Dundas, May 2, 1797; C.O. 319/6.
* Rose, Newton ed. The Cambridge History of Foreign Policy, 1783-1919, Vol. II 1783-1870, Cambridge U. Press, 1940.
* M. Alonso; M. Flores. The Caribbean in the XVIII Century and The British Attack to Puerto Rico in 1797. Puerto Rico: Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas, 1998.
* Robert Gardiner, "The Heavy Frigate", Conway Maritime Press, London 1994.