HMS Hippomenes (1803)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Batavian Republic
|
|
| Name: | Hippomenes |
| Builder: | Vlissingen (Flushing) |
| Laid down: | 1796 |
| Launched: | 1797 |
| Captured: | 20 September 1803 |
 UK
|
|
| Name: | HMS Hippomenes |
| Acquired: | 20 September 1803 by capture |
| Fate: | Broken up 1813 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 407 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 30 ft 1 in (9.17 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 7 ft 5 1⁄2 in (2.273 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 121 (British service) |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Hippomenes was a former Dutch corvette built in Vlissingen in 1797 for the Batavian Republic. The British captured her in 1803 and she served with the Royal Navy until sold in 1813. With the Royal Navy she participated in two notable single-ship actions in the West Indies.
Hippomenes was a sister ship to Atalanta, but brig-rigged and built in 1796. Scorpion captured Atalanta in 1804 but the British did not take her into service. The two sister ships were named for Atalanta and Hippomenes, two lovers from Greek mythology.
Early in 1802, Hippomenes, under the command of Captain-Lieutenant Melvill, was assigned to the West Indies and Guinea coast division of the Batavian Republic's navy. After the end of the French Revolutionary Wars, the British returned the Dutch colonies they had captured in the West Indies to the Republic. In August 1802, Captain Cornelius Hubertus Buchman, of Kenau Hasselar, took a small squadron that also included the frigate Proserpina, Hippomenes, the cutter Rose, and the schooner Serpent, to take possession of Curaçao.Kenau Hasellar and Rose arrived at Willemstad on 22 December. The other vessels in the squadron sailed to other destinations.
In the summer of 1803 Hippomenes was acting as a guard ship at Fort Stabroek, Demerara. She was responsible for the Governor's maritime affairs, served as harbour master for visiting ships, and was under the command of Lieutenant Sistermans.
When Commodore Sir Samuel Hood arrived to take command in the Leeward Islands, he raised his pennant in the 74-gun third rate Centaur. This ship of the line seized Hippomenes on 20 September 1803 at the taking of Demerara.Hippomenes was the only vessel there belonging to the Batavian Republic and so was included in the terms of capitulation. Initial reports described her as a corvette of 18 guns, perhaps because she was pierced for 18, though only 14 were mounted.
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