HMS Circe (1804)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
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| Name: | HMS Circe |
| Ordered: | 16 March 1804 |
| Builder: | Plymouth Dockyard |
| Laid down: | June 1804 |
| Launched: | 17 November 1804 |
| Commissioned: | November 1804 |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: | Sold on 20 August 1814 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 32-gun fifth-rate Thames-class frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 67025⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 34 ft 4 in (10.5 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 11 ft 9 in (3.6 m) |
| Complement: | 220 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Circe was a Royal Navy 32-gun fifth-rate Thames-class frigate, built by Master Shipwright Joseph Tucker at Plymouth Dockyard, and launched in 1804. She served in the Caribbean during the Napoleonic Wars, and participated in an action and a campaign for which in 1847 in the Admiralty authorised the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasps. The action, off the Pearl Rock, near Saint-Pierre, Martinique, was a debacle that cost Circe dearly. However, she also had some success in capturing privateers and a French brig. She was sold in 1814.
Circe entered service in November 1804 under Captain Jonas Rose. She then began operating off Portugal. On 1 March 1805 she captured the Spanish privateer schooner Fama off Oporto. Fama was armed with four brass guns and had a crew of 62 men. She had left Vigo eight days earlier but had not yet taken any prizes.Circe's crew received headmoney for the 62 men in 1829.
Next, on 21 June, Circe captured the privateer Constance in the Leeward Islands. Constance was armed with 10 guns and had a crew of 75 men. She was just out of Guadeloupe. However, she may have been the same Constance that Circe had earlier captured off the coast of Spain. The Admiralty took her in as the schooner Maria.
On 9 May Circe and Epervier captured Charles. Then on 11 September Circe was one of several British warships that shared in the capture of Hiram.
In 1806, command passed to Hugh Pigot, who took Circe to the West Indies. On 9 December Circe captured Belle Eliza.
On 2 January 1807 Circe's boats took the privateer Creole, of one gun and 28 men. On 5 April she took Austerlitz after an 18-hour pursuit. Austerlitz was armed with eighteen 6-pounder guns and had a crew of 125 men. Pigot reported that "This Vessel has done more Mischief to the Trade than any other from Guadaloupe during the War". The British had chased her several times without catching her and she would have escaped this time too had she not sprung her main topsail-yard and fore-top-gallant mast. Then The Royal Navy took Austerlitz into service as HMS Pultusk.
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Wikipedia