HMS Eclipse (1807)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Eclipse |
| Ordered: | 1 October 1806 |
| Builder: | Thomas King, Dover |
| Laid down: | December 1806 |
| Launched: | 4 August 1807 |
| Fate: | Sold on 31 August 1815 |
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Eclipse |
| Owner: | Various |
| Acquired: | 1815 by purchase |
| Fate: | Leaves Lloyd's Register c.1838; last recorded voyage ends June 1845. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 384 26⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 30 ft 7 in (9.3 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Armament: |
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HMS Eclipse was a Royal Navy Cruizer-class brig-sloop built by John King at Dover and launched in 1807. She served off Portugal and then in the Indian Ocean at the capture of the Île de France. Shortly thereafter she captured Tamatave. She was sold for mercantile service in 1815. She traded with India until 1823. Then between 1823 and 1845 she made seven voyages as a whaler.
Eclipse entered naval service in September 1807 under Commander John Douglas. In December Captain George A. Creyke took command immediately sailed her for the Portuguese coast on 2 January 1808,. There Eclipse observed the seizure of Oporto by the French and the subsequent uprising that led to the First Battle of Oporto. Creyke rescued several of the French administrators from death at the hands of the populace by taking the administrators prisoner. He also mounted cannon on a Brazilian ship in the harbour to create a floating battery, under a British officer, to defend a bridge, should the French advance.
On 26 February 1808 Eclipse was in company with Blossom when they captured the Sally and Hetty, William Fleming, Master. Then on 3 March Eclipse sailed for the Leeward Islands. On 7 March Nymphe, with Eclipse and Blossom in company, captured the Hetty.
On 29 May 1808 she captured the American ship Romeo. It is not clear on what grounds she seized the American vessel, but prize money was awarded.
On 6 February 1810 she recaptured Unanimity. That same day, she and Dryad also recaptured Dobridge and Hercules.Hercules, Duncan, master, which had been sailing from Malta to London when she was captured on 3 February, came into Plymouth on 8 February.
Command then passed to George Henderson who sailed Eclipse to the Indian Ocean, leaving on 16 June. There she joined the squadron that successfully prepared and launched the Invasion of Île de France in December 1810.
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Wikipedia