HMS Belvidera (1809)

HMS "Belvidera" was a 36-gun Royal Navy frigate built in Deptford in 1809. In 1811, she became the flagship of Admiral Herbert Sawyer on the Halifax station.

She took part in one of the earliest actions of the War of 1812, when she encountered the American heavy frigates USS "President", the USS "Congress" and the USS "United States", on June 23, 1812, five days after the war had started. The British were not aware that war had been declared and after returning fire they managed to evade their pursuers during the night. The "Belvidera's" course during the fight had led the Americans away from a British convoy from Jamaica, allowing the convoy to escape attack. On July 16 1812, "Belvidera" was part of a British squadron that gave chase to the USS "Constitution", another of the United States heavy frigates, which was on her way from Chesapeake Bay to New York. In the very light winds, both sides put out boats to tow the ships. "Constitution" gained an advantage by using her anchors to pull herself about four miles ahead of the "Belvidera". Captain Byron, then copied the "Constitution" and managed to bring the two ships within gunshot. They exchanged fire as a light breeze came up and by daylight on July 19, the "Constitution", being newly out of port, was able to escape.

For the remainder of the war, "Belvidera" was active in the blockade of the American coast, capturing many American merchant ships and privateers. At the end of 1814, "Belvidera" was decommissioned at Portsmouth. She was used as a storage hulk and eventually sold as a storage hulk in 1846.