Phoenix (of London)
| History | |
|---|---|
 France
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| Name: | Phénix |
| Namesake: | Phoenix |
| Builder: | Bordeaux |
| Launched: | 1809 |
| Fate: | Captured 12 September 1810 |
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Phoenix |
| Owner: |
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| Builder: | France |
| Acquired: | 1811 by purchase |
| Fate: | Lost c.1829 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 337, or 348 (bm) |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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Phoenix was a vessel launched in France in 1809. After the frigate HMS Aigle captured her she was sold and her new owners employed her as whaler. She visited the Galapagos islands in July 1823. In 1824, while under the command of John Palmer, she discovered Phoenix Island, later known as Rawaki Island (also Kanton Island). She is last listed in 1829.
Phénix was built in Bordeaux in 1809. In 1810 she was under the command of Jacques François Perroud, a notable French captain with a long history of privateering. Under Perroud's command, Phénix made a number of captures.
On 25 January 1810 the privateer Phoenix, of 20 guns and 110 men, belonging to Bordeaux, captured Donna Maria, Lunes, master, which had been sailing from Boston to Lisbon. However, on 9 February HMS Conflict recaptured Donna Maria on 9 February; she arrived at Plymouth on 24 February.
On 13 March, the English ship Chatham, which had sailed from Georgia with a cargo of rice and cotton, arrived at Paimbœuf. Chatham was a prize to Phoenix, of Bordeaux.
On 12 September 1810, Aigle captured Phénix.Aigle was at 45°29′N 28°40′W / 45.483°N 28.667°W at 11a.m. on 12 September when she sighted a strange sail coming towards her. The unknown vessel approached but as she got within about 9 miles of Aigle turned and sailed away from her. Aigle gave chase and after 13 hours and 130 miles succeeded in capturing her quarry. Captain Wolfe, of Aigle, was fulsome in his praise of Phoenix, her master, and crew. He described Phoenix as "nearly new, strong built, and Copper fastened." She had outsailed four pursuers in the 50 days she had been out and Aigle only caught her due to a fortuitous gale of wind; on the way into Plymouth, the captured Phoenix always led Aigle. Perroud had exhibited superior seamanship until the wind enabled Aigle to come up. Lastly, Phoenix's crew was "the best Crew I ever saw, composed of strong, healthy, active, stout young Seamen."
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Wikipedia