HMS George (1796)

HMS George was a sloop that the Royal Navy acquired in 1796, probably as the purchase of a prize. Two Spanish privateers of superior force captured her on 3 January 1798 in a sanguinary engagement.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS George.

History
Great Britain
NameGeorge
Acquired1796 by purchase of a prize
Captured3 January 1798
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen105 (bm)
Sail planSloop
Complementcirca 40
Armament6 × 4–pounder guns

Capture

Lieutenant Michael Mackay sailed from Demerara on 2 January 1798 under orders from Lieutenant Stenhouse of HMS Requin to proceed to Martinique.[2] The next day Mackay sighted two vessels, a schooner and a cutter. The two were flying British colours but Mackay was suspicious and prepared for action. As the cutter came within cannonshot of George the cutter hauled down her British colours and raised Spanish colours, opening fire as she did so.[3]

The ensuing engagement lasted 40 minutes. The sloop held her own until her helmsman was killed and she lost the wind.[3] George ran into the cutter, which grappled her. The schooner took a position off George's starboard quarter and raked her. George's crew repelled two boarding attempts, but on their third the Spaniards succeeded in taking possession.[2]

British casualties, out of the 40 men on board, were eight killed (one a civilian passenger), and 17 wounded, one of the wounded being Mackay. He reported that the Spaniards had 32 men killed and several wounded. Mackay reported that the cutter carried 12 guns and 109 men, and the schooner 6 guns and 68 men.[2]

The Spaniards took their captives to St Thomas of Oronoque, from whence the Spanish vessels had come. There the governor took good care of the wounded and the rest of the prisoners.[2]

Citations
  1. Colledge & Warlow (2010), p. 158.
  2. "Loss of His Majesty's Ship George", London Chronicle (Jul.31–Aug.8, 1798), Vol. 82, No.6150, p.112.
  3. Hepper (1994), p. 86.

References
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2010) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (4th Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-935149-07-1.
  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
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