HMS Dryad (1795)

HMS "Dryad" was a 36-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy which served for 64 years, at first during the Napoleonic Wars and then in the suppression of slavery.

History

Launch and the loss of Captain Forbes (1795)

Launched on 4 June 1795, "Dryad" was first commanded by Captain the Hon. Robert Allaster Cam Forbes (2nd son of Lord Forbes), who had previously been the captain of HMS "Southampton" at the Glorious First of June. The brand new frigate may have been a reward for his services, but he did not live long to enjoy it; "The Edinburgh Magazine" records his obituary as "Oct 7, off the coast of Norway, the Honourable Capt. Robert Forbes, commander of his Majesty's ship Dryad". [ The Edinburgh magazine, or Literary miscellany, Vol VI, published 1795, p.480 ] [The Naval and Military Magazine - 1827, p.179 ]

The capture of "Proserpine" (1796)

His successor, Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk, 3rd son of the Duke of St Albans, took command in December 1795. He was stationed off the coast of Ireland and had considerable success against French privateers. On 13 June 1796 he captured, after a 45 minute action, the French frigate "Proserpine". William James writes in his "Naval History of Great Britain": cquote|On the 13th of June, at 1 a.m., Cape Clear bearing west by north distant 12 leagues, the British 18-pounder 36-gun frigate Dryad, Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk, standing close hauled on the starboard tack, with the wind a fresh breeze from northwest by west, discovered a sail in the south-west by west, or right ahead, standing towards her; but which, on nearing the Dryad, hauled her wind, and then tacked. This was the French frigate Proserpine, in search of her consorts, and who, now that she had discovered the ship approaching to be an enemy, was endeavouring to effect her escape.

Chase was immediately given by the Dryad, both ships on a wind upon the starboard tack. At 8 p.m. the Proserpine hoisted her colours; and immediately afterwards the Dryad did the same. The Proserpine then fired her stern-chasers, several of the shot from which went through the Dryad's sails and cut away her rigging. At 9 p.m., having reached her opponent's lee or larboard quarter, the Dryad commenced a close action, and maintained it with so much spirit and effect that, at 9 h. 45 m. p.m., the Proserpine hauled down the French ensign ... Were it not for the slight preponderance occasioned by the Dryad's carronades, the British frigate would have been inferior in guns, as well as in crew and size, to the French frigate. But, as what little the latter wanted in broadside weight of metal was amply made up to her in number of men, the action of the Dryad and Proserpine may be pronounced at least an equal match. Captain Pevrieux appears to have thought otherwise. Hence, the Proserpine fled, and by flying, not only sustained a very serious loss, but was unable to bring guns enough to bear upon her antagonist, to do any more injury to her than a single shot has often inflicted.

Had the French captain, instead of trying to escape, brought his frigate to, he might have manoeuvred her to some advantage, and even, if eventually compelled to yield, would have surrendered without discredit. As it was, after capturing the Proserpine, the Dryad, owing solely to her opponent's forbearance, was able to fight another frigate of the same force ; and, could he have secured his prisoners without diminishing his crew, the Dryad's captain would no doubt have rejoiced at such an opportunity. Lord Amelius, in his official letter, speaks highly of his first lieutenant, Mr. Edward Durnford King, and the latter, most deservedly, was promoted to the rank of commander. [William James , "Naval History of Great Britain, Volume I, 1796, Light Squadrons and Single Ships, pp331-333" (R. Bentley, London, 1837)]

Of the 348 men on board the "Proserpine", 30 were killed and 45 wounded, while "Dryad" lost 2 killed and 7 wounded. The Royal Navy already owned an HMS "Proserpine", and accordingly she was renamed HMS "Amelia" on being bought into the Service.

The Irish Station and Captain Mansfield (1799 - 1801)

, his wife dressing in her own version of a naval officer's uniform. She was apparently well liked, despite her eccentric dress, since she did not interfere with the ship's business. [cite web|url=http://www.minotaur.org/captain-mansfield.htm|title="HMS Minotaur (built 1793), Her History, Her Officers, and Her Crew"|Accessdate=2008-02-19]

"Dryad" sailed for Cork, escorting a convoy, and on 19 September 1799, she captured the "Ceres", a French merchant ship en route from Bordeaux to the Caribbean. The Times reported on 6 January 1800 that cquote|The Dryad frigate, Captain MANSFIELD, sailed from Cork on the 4th of December, with the following transports ... it is supposed that these troops are destined to replace the garrison of Minorca, the principle part of which are employed in the reduction of MALTA.

"Dryad" was based at Cork for several months during 1800, in Admiral Lord Gardner's fleet; Gardner's son Valentine commenced his naval career in "Dryad" under Mansfield. At the beginning of April 1800, "Dryad" spent several days assisting the Royal Navy 44-gun frigate HMS "Revolutionnaire" which had lost her rudder in a hurricane in the Atlantic. "Dryad" had lost her fore-yard and the two ships assisted each other towards Cork but an off-shore gale forced them to head for Plymouth. However, another change in the wind meant that they could neither weather the Scilly Isles nor return to Cork and they drifted up the St George's Channel. On 16 April "Dryad" tried to tow "Revolutionnaire" off the Waterford rocks, but the cable broke. Fortunately another change of wind enabled "Revolutionnaire" to avoid the rocks and both ships finally arrived at Milford Haven on 19 April. On 3 May "The Sun" newspaper reported that "Dryad" arrived in Milford Haven "in a very distressed condition".

Capture of "Le Premier Consul" and "Ulla Ferson" (1801)

West of Ireland on 5 March 1801 "Dryad" captured the French Privateer "Le Premier Consul" (14 nine-pound guns) of St Malo after a 3-hour chase. Only a few days before she had also captured a Portuguese Schooner bound to Ireland.

The "Portsmouth Telegraph" reported on 16 March 1801: cquote|By a private letter received from Cork, we learn, that the Dryad frigate, Captain Mansfield, has captured and sent into that port, a Swedish frigate, after an action of ten minutes, in which the Swede had 7 killed and 14 wounded. The Swedish frigate was the light frigate "Ulla Ferson" (18 guns). Dryad returned from the Irish Station to Portsmouth on 18 March with both "Ulla Ferson" and "Le Premier Consul" as prizes.

The Peace of Amiens (1802 - 1803)

After the Treaty of Amiens was signed with the French Republic in March 1802, Mansfield arrived back in Portsmouth on 9 June in "Dryad" carrying Admiral Lord Gardner and bearing his flag. Captain Robert Williams was appointed to "Dryad", joining her almost immediately. He was employed off Portland in the suppression of smuggling, and in February 1803 left to become captain of the ship-of-the-line HMS "Russell" (74 guns). War with France broke out again in May 1803.

Return to the Irish Station (1804-1808)

"Dryad" had the honour of returning Admiral Lord Gardner to his command at Cork in 1804, this voyage being under her new captain, John Giffard. She remained on the Irish Station, but at the end of the year Captain Giffard left the ship due to ill health. His replacement was Captain (later Admiral Sir) Adam Drummond. On 2 November 1805 "Dryad", in company with HMS "Boadicea", fell in with four French ships-of-the-line off Ferrol which had escaped from the Battle of Trafalgar under Rear-Admiral Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley. The two ships tried to lead the enemy into the path of a Royal Navy squadron by firing rockets but lost them a short time after their signals had been seen by a squadron commanded by Sir Richard Strachan. Neither "Boadicea" nor "Dryad" therefore shared in the Battle of Cape Ortegal, in which "Formidable", "Scipion", "Duguay-Trouin" and "Mont Blanc" were captured.

In July of 1807 Captain William Price Cumby took pro tempore command of "Dryad", and during a three-month cruise on the Irish Station took several valuable prizes. Captain Drummond returned to the ship, and on 22 March 1808 he captured the French privateer "Rennair" (13 guns), with a crew of 95 men.

The Walcheren Expedition (1809)

Captain Edward Galwey took command in 1809, and remained her captain until the end of the Napoleonic Wars. On 28 July "Dryad" sailed with a large fleet from the Downs. This fleet, and the troops they carried, formed part of the Walcheren Expedition, the aim of which was to demolish the dockyards and arsenals at Antwerp, Terneuzen, and Flushing. On 11 August "Dryad" formed part of a squadron of frigates directed to sound and buoy the Sloe Strait in preparation for the attack on Flushing, which fell on 15 August. The expedition ended in failure, mostly due to malarial sickness, and the force was withdrawn by September.

The Home Station (1809 - 1814)

Between 1809 and 1814 "Dryad" served on the Home Station, including the north coast of Spain under the orders of Commodore Sir Robert Mends. The year of 1811 was clearly busy; the list of prizes includes the American ship "Matilda" (28 January), the French schooner "La Balam" (22 March) and an unnamed French brig (9 October). She docked down in Plymouth during October, and by January 1812 was again sending prizes in; a ship named "Spy" from New York was sent in on 30 January. She was employed on less glamorous tasks as well - during August 1812 she conveyed bullocks to the Channel Fleet, a filthy and unpleasant mission. On 23 December 1812 Captain Galway wrecked a nameless French brig of 22 guns by driving her ashore on the Île d'Yeu. "Dryad" was struck in the hull several times by shots from the shore and her foremast was hit, but she suffered no casualties. Soon afterward she captured the American schooner "Rosa" from Baltimore, which arrived in Plymouth on 17 January 1813.

Capture of "Clorinde" (1814)

.

Out of Commission (1814 - 1825)

"Dryad" was decommissioned on her return with "Clorinde", and although in 1816 she was fitted for a voyage to Jamaica, the plan was cancelled. She remained out of commission at Sheerness until 1825.

The Mediterranean (1825-1830)

"Dryad" was recommissioned in August 1825 under Captain Hon. Robert Rodney (4th son of George Rodney, 2nd Baron Rodney [ "A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire", by John Burke, published by H Colburn and R Bentley, London, 1832 p360] ) at Sheerness for service in the Mediterranean. Less than a year leter, on 20 July 1826, he died while in command of the frigate. His successor was Captain Hon. George Crofton (son of Sir Edward Crofton, 2nd Baronet [ "A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire", by John Burke, published by H Colburn and R Bentley, London, 1832 p305] ). The ship visited Gibraltar, Valletta and Aegina between July 1827 and June 1828.

The Preventative Squadron (1830-1832)

By November 1829 "Dryad" was recommissioning in Plymouth for foreign service. Captain John Hayes joined her in May 1830 and she sailed for the coast of Africa on 29 September 1830, with Captain Hayes serving as Commodore on that station. HMS "Fair Rosamond" and HMS "Black Joke", both captured ex-slave ships, were tenders to "Dryad", and between November 1830 and March 1832, they accounted for 11 out of 13 slavers taken by the squadron. On a station with a well-deserved reputation for killing sailors by disease, the West Africa Squadron carried out a determined effort to stop the slave trade. Increasing international co-operation made the efforts of the Royal Navy gradually more effective.

Visits to Ascension Island brought welcome relief from the torrid climate of West Africa, as well as a chance to give the crew access to fresh provisions and allow them ashore for recreation; and to water, refit and paint ship. She carried out hydrography, too. The "Nautical Magazine For 1832" records one such occasion: cquote|On the authority of Commodore Hayes, and Mr. A. Weir, the master of H.M.S. Dryad, we can no longer give credit to the statement of Mr. Fraser, of the ship St. George, in 1830, relating to the existence of a dangerous rock to N.E. of Ascension. By the following it will be seen, that the Dryad and her tender went in search of it ; and from the care taken in the observations, as well as the common occurrence of shoals of fish being frequently seen in those latitudes, and the great probability that it would have been discovered before, had such a rock existed, we must conclude that there is no such danger. ["Nautical Magazine For 1832", p.501 ] "

Her voyage home started in the Gambia on 31 May 1832, and after a short stop in the Azores at the beginning of July, she arrived in Portsmouth on 25 July. On 11 August she sailed for Cork, Ireland, and returned to Portsmouth on 29 August.

Harbour Service (1832 - 1859)

She was put out of commission for the last time on 13 September 1832 and became a Receiving Ship at Portsmouth. She was broken up in 1859.

Commanding Officers

References

Reflist
*Colledge
*"The Naval History of Great Britain, 1793 - 1820", Volumes II and VI, William James, R. Bentley, London, 1837.
* [http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=0785 Age of Nelson website - HMS Dryad]
* [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/D/01480.html Naval Database - HMS Dryad]