HMS Porpoise (1804)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | Lord Melville |
| Builder: | South Shields |
| Launched: | 1804 |
| History | |
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | HMS Porpoise |
| Acquired: | By purchase c. September 1804 |
| Fate: | Sold 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Brig |
| Tons burthen: | 399 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 30 ft 10 in (9.4 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 0 in (4.0 m) |
| Complement: | 70 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Porpoise was the former quarter-decked sloop, the mercantile Lord Melville, which the Royal Navy purchased in 1804 to use as a storeship. Her early career was much bound up with William Bligh and Australia's history. She was sold in 1816.
Porpoise was fitted at Deptford between March and July 1805 for service as a storeship. She was commissioned in April 1805 under Commander Joseph Short as a flagship for Commodore William Bligh. Bligh was formally appointed captain of Porpoise on 13 November 1805.
On 28 January 1806 she left Portsmouth for the colony of New South Wales, escorting the transports Lady Madeleine Sinclair, Fortune, Alexander, Elizabeth, and Justina. Lady Madeleine Sinclair was also carrying Bligh, who was sailing to the colony to assume the governorship. Unfortunately, the Admiralty's orders were ambiguous as to whether Bligh or Short was in command of the convoy. At one point Bligh ignored a signal from Short to return Lady Madeleine Sinclair to her course, after Bligh had ordered a change in direction. Short responded by ordering his first lieutenant, John Putland, to fire one shot across her bows, and then a second across her stern, Bligh ignoring both. Short considered, but did not order Putland to fire a third shot into her. This was fortunate as Bligh was Putland's father-in-law, and Putland's wife Mary was accompanying her father on Lady Madeleine Sinclair.
The convoy passed Madeira on 25 February and were reported all well on 5 March. On the way Porpoise detained and sent into the Cape of Good Hope the Danish packet ship Three Sisters. This was the detention of the Trende Sostre on 14 May by Porpoise, the storeship Woolwich, and the brig Rolla.
Porpoise arrived in Sydney Harbour on 6 August. Bligh assumed the governorship of the colony and retained Porpoise to act as its principal naval unit. In January 1807 Short returned to Britain on HMS Buffalo. In his absence Bligh appointed Putland to command Porpoise. Putland died of tuberculosis on 4 January 1808.
...
Wikipedia