- HMS Polyphemus (1782)
HMS "Polyphemus", a 64-gun
third-rate ship of the line of theRoyal Navy , launched on27 April 1782 atSheerness . She was the first ship of theRoyal Navy named forPolyphemus theCyclops .She was laid down at
Sheerness in1782 and was commissioned in1799 under the command of Captain G. Lumsdaine. She sailed from Yarmouth on9 August 1800 with a squadron under Vice Admiral Dickson in "Monarch" bound forDenmark . Because of lack of wind the faster sailing vessels had to tow the slower ones and it was15 August before they reached theSkaw . The next day the whole squadron advanced as far as the mouth of the Sound where the Danes had anchored three 74-gun ships, later increased to four, betweenCronberg Castle and the Swedish shore. Because of gales the Admiral sheltered his squadron inElsinor Roads then went in "Romney" as far asSophienburg to talk with Lord Whitworth who was negotiating with the Danish ministers. When matters were resolved the squadron returned to Yarmouth in September.In
1801 , under the command of Captain John Lawford, "Polyphemus" was with the fleet which bombarded Copenhagen on2 April . "Polyphemus" lost Mr. James Bell the midshipman, four seamen and one marine. Mr. Edward Burr the boatswain, twenty seamen and four marines wounded were wounded. The division of the North Sea fleet commanded by Admiral Graves in "Polyphemus" returned to Yarmouth from theBaltic Sea on13 July and then sailed to join Admiral Dickson's squadron blockading the Dutch fleet in the Texel. (It included
"Veteran",
"Ruby",
"Otter",
"Vesuvius",
"Bruiser",
"Cracker",
"Hasty",
"Teazer",
"Pioncher",
"Alecto",
"Sulphur",
"Explosion",
"Speedwell",
"Queen",
"Speculator",and
" Espiegle".)In
1805 , CaptainRobert Redmill took command of "Polyphemus" off Cadiz. Later that year, she took part in theBattle of Trafalgar .In July
1806 she was with Lord St. Vincent's squadron offUshant and on14 July her boats, together with others of the squadron, were taken by the "Iris" to Sir Samuel Hood in "Indefatigable" offRochefort to attack two French corvettes and a convoy at the entrance to theGaronne . The weather on15 July appeared suitable for the attempt but after the boats left a strong wind blew up and although they managed to capture the 18-gunbrig "Caesar" they could not prevent the convoy escaping up river. The greater part of the boats were either shot through or so badly stove in that they were swamped, and had to be cut adrift from the brig as she was brought out under fire from the batteries and ex-British "Teaser" brig. The casualties from "Polyphemus" were William Anderson, Quarter Master's Mate, who was cut across the hand, and W. Fleming, Coxswain, who was cut across the eyebrow.In
1807 "Polyphemus", under the command of CaptainPeter Heywood , became the flagship of Rear Admiral Sir George Murray, South America.In
1808 , under the command of Captain W. Price Cumby (another Trafalgar veteran), she became the flagship of Vice Admiral B.S. Rowley. In July she sailed forJamaica , convoying a large fleet of merchantmen, for the Vice Admiral to take up his appointment. Since he resided on shore with his flag in "Shark", "Polyphemus" was able to undertake cruises against the enemy. On the morning of14 November he detached his boats under Lieutenant Joseph Daly in the barge to chase a schooner attempting to enter the harbour atSan Domingo . An hour later she was boarded and carried under a hail of grape and musketry in which marine Samuel Crompton was killed and proved to be the French national schooner "Colibry" of three carriage guns commanded by Lieutenant Deyrisse with 63 men.In June
1809 Captain Cumby was appointed to command a squadron consisting of "Polyphemus",
"Aurora",
"Tweed",
"Sparrow",
"Thrush",
"Griffin",
"Lark",
"Moselle",
"Fleur-de-Mer"and
" Pike".They sailed fromPort Royal on7 June with troops under Major General Carmichael to assist the Spanish forces besieging the French in the city ofSan Domingo . On1 July "Polyphemus" anchored at Caleta and loaded eight of her lower deck guns into the "Sparrow" sloop to be landed at Palenqui for the use of the batteries to the westward of the town. Two of the guns were then transported by Captain Burt of "Sparrow" fromAndre Bay to the east battery, nearly 30 miles across almost impassable country. The French garrison surrendered on6 July .Captain Cumby was appointed to "Hyperion" in March
1811 and was succeeded by Captain T. Graves then Captain Douglas. "Polyphemus" paid off at Chatham in November1812 . In1813 She was converted to serve as a powder hulk, and she was eventually broken up in1827 .References
*This article includes material from "Ships of the Old Navy; a History of the Sailing Ships of the Royal Navy" by Michael Phillips. Used with permission of the author.
*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.
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