HMS Gaspée (1773)

HMS Gaspée (or HMS Gaspe or HMS Gaspé) was purchased in North America in 1772, commissioned in 1773, and captured in 1775. The Royal Navy recaptured her in 1776. She was recommissioned and served again until prepared for disposal at the end of 1777. At some point she was at the "Battle of Fundy", but when this occurred and what her role was is currently obscure.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Gaspee.

History
Great Britain
NameHMS Gaspée
AcquiredBy purchase 1772
CommissionedJanuary 1773
CapturedNovember 1775
FateRecaptured 1776 and sold, possibly in 1777
General characteristics [1][2]
Tons burthen7754⁄94 (by calc.), or 102 (bm)
Length49 ft 0 in (14.9 m)
Beam16 ft 10 in (5.1 m)
Depth of hold7 ft 10 in (2.4 m)
Sail planSchooner, or brig (mentions differ)
Complement30
Armament6 guns + 8 × ½-pounder swivel guns

Career

Lieutenant William Hunter commissioned Gaspée in January 1773.[1] In 1775 she arrived at Quebec to take on provisions. There Colonel Guy Carleton, Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Quebec, prevailed upon Hunter to take some his men to Lake Champlain and there take command of a vessel that Carleton was having built at St Johns.[3] Lieutenant Hunter took command of HMS Royal Savage.[4] The British were forced to surrender St Johns on 3 November to the advancing American forces. A bombardment had sunk Royal Savage;[4] Hunter and 14 of his men were among the prisoners-of-war.[3]

In September Gaspee carried the captured American leader Ethan Allen from Montreal to Quebec.

In Lieutenant Hunter's absence, command of Gaspée devolved on Mr. Chase, her master. She and Hunter escorted a convoy of merchantmen from Nova Scotia to Boston, Massachusetts. They were at anchor outside the harbour when two American privateers came up and captured them on 23 November.[4]

On 3 May 1776 Isis,Surprise, and Martin sailed up the St Lawrence River to the relief of Quebec. Surprise and Martin sailed ahead to "annoy" the retreating American troops. On their way they captured an American schooner armed with four 6-pounder and six 3-pounder guns, and recovered Gaspée. The Americans had scuttled Gaspée, but the British were able to weigh her and discovered that she was little damaged.[5][lower-alpha 1]

In July 1776 Lieutenant George Wilson recommissioned Gaspée at Quebec; she was still under his command in 1777.[1] She was paid off on 13 December 1777 for disposal.[2]

Notes
  1. The privateer was Maria, captured on 7 May. Surprise captured Gaspée on 17 May.[6]

Citations
  1. "NMM, vessel ID 367417" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol vi. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  2. Winfield (2007), p. 316.
  3. Hitsman (1968).
  4. Hepper (1994), p. 49.
  5. "No. 11673". The London Gazette. 8 June 1776. p. 1.
  6. Winfield (2007), p. 233.

References
  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3. OCLC 622348295.
  • Hitsman, J. Mackay (1968). Safeguarding Canada 1763-1871. University of Toronto. ISBN 9781487590062.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1844157006.

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