HMS Tonnant (1798)

The "Tonnant" ("Thundering") was a 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.

She fought in the battles of Genoa on 14 March 1795 and the Nile on 1 August 1798 under Aristide Aubert Du Petit Thouars. During the battle, she severely damaged HMS "Majestic", causing nearly two hundred casualties, 50 men killed, including her captain, George Blagdon Westcott, and 143 wounded. Du Petit-Thouars had both legs and an arm shot off, and commanded his ship until he died. "Tonnant" was the only French ship still engaged in the morning, with her colors flying, though aground. It wasn't until the 3rd August that she finally hauled down her colours. The "Tonnant" eventually surrendered and was recommissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS "Tonnant".

During the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805), under the command of Captain Charles Tyler, she captured the French ship "Algésiras" of 74 guns.

In the War of 1812, under the command of Captain Wainwright, HMS "Tonnant" was the flagship for Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane during most of the campaign in Chesapeake Bay, directing attacks on Washington and Baltimore, and the Battle of New Orleans. It was aboard the "Tonnant" that the Americans, Colonel John Stuart Skinner and Francis Scott Key dined with Vice Admiral Cochrane, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn and Major General Robert Ross, where they negotiated the release of a prisoner, Dr. William Beanes. After his release, Skinner, Key and Beanes were allowed to return to their own sloop, but were not allowed to return to Baltimore because they had become familiar with the strength and position of British units and knew of the British intention to attack Baltimore. As a result, Key witnessed the bombarding of Fort McHenry and was inspired to write a poem called "The Defense of Ft. McHenry", later named "The Star Spangled Banner".

HMS "Tonnant" was also the flagship for Admiral Lord Keith when she took part in the exiling of Napoleon to St. Helena in 1815.

She was broken up in 1821.

References

*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.

External links

* [http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/ships/html/sh_092500_hmstonnant.htm Ships of the World (URL not functional as of July 04, 2008)]