HMS York (1807)

HMS "York" was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Rotherhithe by the contract firm Samuel & Daniel Brent, and launched on July 7 1807. She saw service during the Napoleonic Wars, though is best known for her time spent as a prison ship. She was broken up in March 1854.

ervice History

HMS "York" was one of many British warships ordered after they were most needed. Although the major naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars had already occurred by the time of her launching, "York" was employed on some notable campaigns.

After her launch, "York" was under the command of Captain Robert Barton, and as part of Sir Samuel Hood's squadron, she participated in the occupation of Madeira. In 1809, "York" was on the West India Station, and was involved in the capture of Martinique. Later that year, "York" was involved in the disastrous landings at Walcheren. "York" was later with the Mediterranean Squadron off Toulon.

In 1819, "York" entered Portsmouth harbour, where she was stripped of her masts and guns, and converted into a prison ship. HMS "York" is best remembered in this state, thanks to a contemporary drawing by Edward William Cooke, which shows her fully converted, and with laundry above her decks where sails once would have been. She would have typically contained approximately 500 convicts.

After many years at this harbour service, she was finally broken up in March 1854.

References

*" [http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/conMediaFile.1206/Prison-ship-York-at-Portsmouth-Harbour.html Prison ship York at Portsmouth Harbour] ", drawing at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
*Navy News, " [http://www.navynews.co.uk/ships/york.asp Background on HMS York] "
*" [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/V.HTM Sailing Ships of the Royal Navy, V-Z] "
*Lavery, Brian (2003) "The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850." Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.