HMS Daring (1844)

HMS "Daring" was a 12 gun-brig of the Royal Navy designed by Mr White of Cowes and built in Portsmouth Dockyard.

History

From September 1844 until February 1847 she was commanded by Cdr Henry James Matson RN [http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/visit_see_victory_cfexhibition_matson.htm] , at first on the Home Station, where she formed part of the 1844 Experimental Brig Squadron [http://www.pdavis.nl/Experimental1844.php] . "The Times" stated on 23 September 1844:

The experimental squadron is not yet ready for sea, although we expected it would have been by the 20th; but the truth of what we stated a few weeks ago is now proved - seamen are not so plentiful as supposed, and numbers, tired of waiting for the brigs to be commissioned, really have left the port for other places and employment. Tenders are daily arriving with hands from other ports, and vessels sent from this and other ports to convey seamen. This would not have been the case had the brigs been commissioned when ready, and hundreds of the finest and best hands would have been secured to the service. We stated last week that the Daring entered her complement, and could have entered many more on the day she hoisted her pendant. This has been seized upon (as we expected it would be), as corroboratory of the statements made in certain daily and weekly "sources of information" upon the present efficient state of our naval force. It is, in fact, however, corroborative of no such allegation, but merely proves this, that the Daring and Waterwitch, being the first of the squadron commissioned, had a rush made to enter for them, and the former having a very excellent commander and a very "winning" look, was manned, and to spare, before her sister had half her complement on her books, and before the other vessel of the squadron had entered a single hand.—The Times, 23 September 1844

She appeared to be a good sailer; the report of the comparative sailing qualities of the vessels making up the Experimental Brig Squadron reads:

In the trial No. l, with the water smooth and a long swell, the Flying Fish had the greatest advantage; the Osprey and Daring slightly differing from each other, coming next; but in the trial No. 7, when the wind was similar, but where instead of smooth water there was a cross head sea, the Daring was the most weatherly, the Flying Fish and Espiegle coming after her, being followed, but at some distance, by the Mutine and Osprey. From the results of these two trials with the same weather, but with the sea coming in a different direction, it may safely be deduced that the Daring with a head sea is the superior vessel; and this is really remarkably confirmed by examining the details of the trial No. 7, where it appears that for three hours, when on the tack, with a following sea, there was comparatively but little difference between the Flying Fish, Espiegle, and Daring; but that afterwards, when the signal to tack had been made, and they were brought to bow the sea, the advantage was chiefly gained, which in two hours gave the Daring so great a superiority over the other two.—Capatin Corry RN, To the Secretary of the Admiralty, December 9 1844

Later she served on the North America and West Indies Station, where she seems to have spent the rest of her career. Cdr William Peel RN (a later winner of the VC and 3rd son of Sir Robert Peel, British Prime Minister) became her Captain from February 1847 until October 1848. Later (from August 1852) she was commanded by Cdr Gerard John Napier RN. She was sold out of the service in 1864 and broken up.

Commanding Officers

* 1844 Cdr Henry James Matson RN - an outspoken abolitionist and hero of the Preventative Squadron.
* 1847 Cdr Cdr William Peel RN
* 1852 Cdr Gerard John Napier RN

References

*Colledge
* Age of Nelson website - [http://www.ageofnelson.org/index.html Age of Nelson]