HMS Pelican (1812)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
|
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| Name: | HMS Pelican |
| Builder: | Robert Davy, Topsham |
| Laid down: | January 1812 |
| Launched: | August 1812 |
| Commissioned: | 11 December 1812 |
| Decommissioned: | 1865 |
| Honours and awards: |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Pelican 14 Augt. 1813" |
| Fate: | Sold June 1865 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 385 41⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 30 ft 9 in (9.37 m) |
| Draught: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) (unladen); 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (laden) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Brig-sloop |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: | 16 × 32-pounder carronades + 2 x 6-pounder guns |
HMS Pelican was an 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, launched in August 1812. She is perhaps best known for her capture of the brig the USS Argus in August 1813. When the navy sold Pelican in 1865 she was the last Cruizer-class vessel still in service.
Pelican was commissioned under Commander John Fordyce Maples on 11 December 1812 for the Irish station. On 5 May 1813 Pelican captured the American schooner Neptune's Barge. Neptune's Barge had been sailing from Connecticut to Santiago de Cuba. Pelican sent her into Jamaica.
Pelican was engaged in convoy escort duty to and from Britain. On 10 August 1813 she arrived in Cork, Ireland, having escorted a convoy from the West Indies. At the time the Argus was raiding in British waters and two days later Pelican sailed to join the hunt for the American. On 14 August Pelican engaged Argus off St David's Head on the Pembrokeshire coast. After an engagement lasting 45 minutes Pelican was in a position to board, at which point Argus struck her colours and surrendered.Pelican had lost two men killed and five wounded; Fordyce estimated American losses as 40 killed and wounded. In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Pelican 14 Augt. 1813" to the four surviving claimants from the action.
Later that month Commander Thomas Mansell replaced Maples. On 13 January 1814 Pelican captured the American privateer Siro (or Sero) after a chase of 12 hours. Siro was a schooner out of Baltimore, armed with 12 guns. She had a crew of 50 men under Captain D. Gray. Captain Thomas Mansell described Siro in a letter as being pierced for 16 guns though carrying twelve 9-pounders, and new and a fast sailer. She was only about two years old so the Royal Navy took Siro into service as Atalanta, and even though Pelican had to share the prize money with Castilian, she proved to be a valuable prize.
On 26 January Castillian, with Achates in sight, recaptured the Swedish brig Apparencen. Pelican shared the salvage money by agreement with Castillian. Then on 21 March Pelican recaptured the Nossa Senhora de Monte and the Jupiter. Teazer was in company with Pelican.
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