HMS Firefly (1808)
HMS Firefly was the Spanish schooner Antelope, which the British Royal Navy captured in February 1808 and purchased. She was renamed Antelope in 1812, or possibly in 1809. She was broken up in 1814.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Firefly |
| Acquired | 19 February 1808 by capture |
| Fate | Broken up 1814 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 172[1] (bm) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
| Complement | 62 (at capture) |
| Armament | 1 × 18-pounder + 4 × 6-pounder guns (at capture) |
Capture
On 19 February 1808 HMS Meleager captured Antelope, a Spanish schooner Letter of Marque. Antelope was pierced for 14 guns but only carried five, an 18-pounder midships and four 6-pounders; the 6-pounders she threw overboard during the chase. She had a crew of 62 men and was sailing from Cadiz to Vera Cruz with a cargo of dry goods, brandy and wine. Captain John Broughton of Meleager described Antelope as "a very fine vessel, sails well".[2]
Royal Navy
Lieutenant David Boyd commissioned Firefly in 1808.[1] He transferred from HMS Gracieuse,[3] and would remain commander of Firefly from 12 March 1808 to 28 July 1813.
On 1 November His Majesty's schooner Firefly escorted two schooners that HMS Reindeer had cut out of a port at San Domingo.[4]
Then in December, the brig Firefly escorted two merchant vessels through the passage from Jamaica.[lower-alpha 1]
At some point, possibly in 1809 or in 1812, she was renamed Antelope. Towards the end of 1809 Boyd sailed her back to England.[3] Still, on 9 December 1812, Firefly was at Port-au-Prince.
Fate
She was broken up in 1814.[1]
Notes
- It is not clear whether the description of Firefly as a brig is a mistake, or if she had been converted to brig-rig.[5]
Citations
- Winfield (2008), p. 365.
- "No. 16139". The London Gazette. 23 April 1808. pp. 571–572.
- Marshall (1833), p. 341.
- "LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13" (13 December 1808), Morning Post (London, England) Issue: 11818.
- "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4325. 7 February 1809. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105232938.
References
- Marshall, John (1833). . Royal Naval Biography. Vol. 4, part 1. London: Longman and company. p. 341.
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.