HMS Euphrosyne (1796)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
|
|
| Name: | HMS Euphrosyne |
| Acquired: | 1796 by purchase |
| Fate: | Sold 1802 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Brig |
| Tonnage: | 125 (bm) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Armament: | 14-16 guns |
HMS Euphrosyne (or Euphroysene) was an American brig that Vice-Admiral George Elphinstone purchased for the Royal Navy at Simon's Bay in 1796 in preparation for his attack on the Dutch squadron at Saldanha Bay. She was sold in 1802.
In May 1796 Elphinstone arrived at Simon's Bay from India. There he purchased an American brig that had been damaged. Elphinstone had her repaired, armed, and manned; He took her into service as HMS Euphrosyne.
Then a squadron of the navy of the Batavian Republic, under the command of Rear-Admiral Engelbertus Lucas (1747-21 June 1797), surrendered on 17 August 1796 at Saldanha Bay without a fight to a Royal Navy squadron under Elphinstone's command. Euphrosyne is not among the vessels listed as qualifying for prize money from the captures. This may be a consequence of her not yet being commissioned, or her being viewed as a tender and her crew qualifying by virtue of their being on the rolls of their parent vessels.
On 7 October 1797 a mutiny developed on several vessels at Simon's Bay, Euphrosyne among them. The mutiny ended five days later after Admiral Pringle, the naval commander on the station, promised to address the mutineers' grievances and to issue a general pardon. The mutiny broke out again on several ships, but the authorities were able to suppress it. Ultimately, a handful of the ringleaders were hanged.
In 1799 Euphrosyne was under the command of Lieutenant D. Whittle, and between 1800 and 1802 belonged to a squadron based there under the command of Vice-Admiral Roger Curtis.
In 1800 Euphrosyne was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Walker. In March or so she underwent repairs and coppering. On 5 May Walker and six others drowned when a boat carrying them to shore at Algoa Bay sank. Lieutenant W. Shirley (probably William Warden Shirley) then took command.
In July, Curtis sent Lancaster, Adamant, Rattlesnake, and Euphrosyne to blockade Isle de France and Bourbon. They remained until October and during this period shared in the proceeds of several captures.
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Wikipedia