HMS Belvidera (1809)
_and_USS_President_(1800).jpg)
Battle between HMS Belvidera and USS President on 23 August 1812
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Belvidera |
| Ordered: | 28 September 1808 |
| Builder: | Deptford Dockyard |
| Laid down: | December 1808 |
| Launched: | 23 December 1809 |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Apollo-class fifth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 943 53/94 (as designed) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 38 ft 2 in (11.63 m) |
| Draught: | 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 264 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Belvidera was a 36-gun Royal Navy Apollo-class fifth-rate frigate built in Deptford in 1809. She saw action in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and continued a busy career at sea into the middle of the 19th century. In 1846 she was reduced to harbour service, in 1860 she became a receiving ship, and she was finally disposed of in 1906.
Belvidera was commissioned in January 1800 under Captain Charles Dashwood. In March, Captain Richard Byron replaced Dashwood.
On 22 July 1810, Belvidera and Nemesis, Captain William Ferris, were sailing close to the shore of Studtland, Norway. That evening a boat from Belvedera sighted three Danish gun-vessels in a large bay. Next day, seven boats from the two frigates attacked the Danes. Two of the Danish vessels, Balder and Thor, commanded by Lieutenants Dahlreup and Rasmusen, were schooner-rigged. Each mounted two long 24-pounders and six 6-pounder howitzers and had a crew of 45 men. The third gun-vessel carried one long 24-pounder and a crew of 25 men. The British captured both Balder and Thor without suffering any casualties, though the Danes lost four men killed. The remaining vessel, Gunboat No. 5, ran up a fiord where her crew abandoned her; the British then burnt her.
In 1811, Belvidera became the flagship of Admiral Herbert Sawyer on the Halifax station.
Belvidera took part in one of the earliest actions of the War of 1812 when she encountered the American frigates USS President, USS Congress and USS United States on 23 June 1812, five days after the war had started. The British were not aware that war had been declared and after returning fire they managed to evade their pursuers during the night. Belvidera's course during the fight had led the Americans away from a British convoy from Jamaica, allowing the convoy to escape attack. Belvidera arrived in Halifax on June 27 with three prizes that she captured on the way.
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Wikipedia