HMS Melampus (1785)
Detail from the painting by Bristol artist Chris Woodhouse of the 36-gun Bristol-built frigate HMS Melampus, commissioned and purchased in 1990 by Bristol City Museum
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Melampus |
| Ordered: | 17 April 1782 |
| Builder: | James Martin Hillhouse, Bristol |
| Laid down: | December 1782 |
| Launched: | 8 June 1785 |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: | Sold to Dutch Navy in June 1815 |
 Netherlands
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| Name: | HNLMS Melampus |
| Acquired: | June 1815 by purchase |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 36-gun fifth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 94724/94 (bm) |
| Length: | 141 ft (43.0 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft 10 in (11.8 m) |
| Draught: | 13 ft 11 in (4.2 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Complement: | 270 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Melampus was a Royal Navy fifth-rate frigate that served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. She captured numerous prizes before the British sold her to the Dutch navy in 1815. With the Dutch she participated in a major action at Algiers, and then in a number of colonial punitive expeditions in the Dutch East Indies.
The Admiralty ordered Melampus from James Martin Hillhouse, of Bristol on 17 April 1782 as a 38-gun fifth rate. After she had been laid down in December 1782, the Admiralty reduced her armament to 36 guns on 11 January 1783, as captains of earlier 38-gun frigates had complained that the extra guns made the upper gundeck too cramped. Melampus was launched on 8 June 1785, and fitted between 3 July and 8 September 1785 for ordinary at Plymouth. She was again fitted between May and 2 July 1790 for Channel service. She had cost £20,785 13s 0d to build, with a further £2,985 being spent in 1790 for fitting out.
Her first captain following her May 1790 commissioning was Charles M. Pole. Melampus was paid off again in November 1790, but by 1793 she had been moved to Plymouth, where she was refitted between March and June for £4,726.
She recommissioned in April 1793 under the command of Isaac Coffin, and by April the following year she was under Captain Thomas Wells, serving in Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron. During this time Melampus participated in the Action of 23 April 1794, during which the British took three vessels, Engageante, Pomone, and Babet.Melampus had five men killed and five wounded.
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Wikipedia