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COLUMBINE Built in 1826, Portsmouth.
Broken up in 1854.

  • Charles CROLE, 11/1827, Halifax.
  • 1828 John TOWNSEND, 01/1828, Halifax.
  • 1831 James GABRIEL, 06/1830, West Indies.
  • 1832 Henry Ommanney LOVE, 07/1831, West Indies.
    On 28 January 1833 COLUMBINE was at Carlisle Bay, Barbados, when she received a signal from PALLAS that a ship had run ashore.
    Anchoring as close as he could LOVE streamed a cable between COLUMBINE's stern port and into the merchantman's cabin window and winched it taut.
    By removing part of the cargo they succeeded in getting her afloat after 48 hours labour.
    The following day COLUMBINE sailed with troops for Antigua and thence to Demerara. She paid off at Sheerness after nearly 4 years in commission.
    During this time she did not lose a man through sickness.
  • 1826 Thomas HENDERSON, 06/1834, Mediterranean.
  • 1837 Ditto, Cape of Good Hope.
  • 1838 Ditto, Chatham.
  • 1840 George ELLIOT, 05/1838, Cape and Coast of Africa.
  • 1841 Thomas CLARKE, 06/1840, East Indies.
    On 7 January 1841 SAMARANG led her division consisting of COLUMBINE, DRUID and MODESTE to attack the fort of Chuanpee at the entrance to the Canton River.
    They anchored within half a cable and silenced the Chinese guns after an hour's bombardment.
    The squadron then turned to the west side of the river and, from about 200 yards offshore, bombarded the fort at Tyocktow until a breach was made in the walls.
    The boats of SAMARANG and MODESTE under Lieut. BOWYER and those of COLUMBINE and DRUID under Lieut. GOLDSMITH of DRUID then landed a force of seamen who drove out the Chinese and captured the fort.
    The guns which numbered 25 of different calibre were thrown into the sea and the buildings blown up.
    On 8 February COLUMBINE arrived at Chusan and returned to Hong Kong on 11 April.
  • During the attack on Canton at the end of May 1841, COLUMBINE, CRUIZER and MODESTE took up a position to enfilade the line of batteries in front of the city to the eastward of the Dutch Folly fort.
    The Chinese attacked with fire-ships but they were able to tow these clear.
    When ALGERINE attacked a fort to the eastward and came under fire, the boats of COLUMBINE under Lieuts. HAMILTON and HELPMAN and Mr MILLS, mate, were sent, together with others from the squadron to her aid.
    They stormed the shore under fire from 11 guns and musketry and captured the fort.
  • COLUMBINE covered the landing of troops for the capture of Amoy on 26 August 1841 and took part in the recapture of Chusan at the end of September.
    In March 1842 the Chinese attempted to recapture Ningpo.
    COLUMBINE, MODESTE and QUEEN, anchored off the city, opened fire to impede the enemy advance.
    The following day the boats of COLUMBINE under Capt. MORSHEAD discovered and destroyed 37 fire-vessels in the river
  • COLUMBINE entered the Yangtse river on 13 June 1842 and, towed into position by the steamer PHLEGETHON, she took part in the bombardment of the Woosung batteries on 16 June.
    On 6 July the fleet, consisting of nearly 80 sail, got under weigh for the attack on Nankin.
    COLUMBINE, Capt. MORSHEAD, joined the advanced squadron under Sir William PARKER in CORNWALLIS.
    Fortunately the Emperor was impressed by the overwhelming show of force and sued for peace.
  • 1844 Chatham.
  • 1848 John HAY, 12/1847, East Indies.
    On 30 Sept 1849 COLUMBINE was sent in search of a pirate, Chiapoo, wanted for the murder of two British officers.
    He was found some 50 miles east of Hong Kong at Bias Bay with a fleet of 23 vessels averaging 500 tons and mounting 12 18pdr carronades.
    In the first engagement Midshipman GODDARD and 4 men were wounded and they were sent back to Hong Kong in the steamer CANTON with a request for assistance in tackling the remaining junks which were blockaded in the bay.
    FURY arrived at 2 AM
    on the 1 October and Hay boarded her to go up the shallow river at the head of the bay in pursuit of the pirates.
    Twenty miles up river the action was resumed and 27 junks were destroyed.
    Many of the pirates were killed but about 1,000 escaped.
  • On Monday 8 October COLUMBINE left Hong Kong in company with FURY, with PHLEGATHON under tow to save coal, in pursuit of a great pirate fleet.
    As they reached Pelong at the head of the Gulf of Tonquin FURY suddenly grounded and COLUMBINE ran in to her and lost her bower anchor. After searching along the coast they fell in with the pirates on 20 October in the Tonquin River at Chokeum. Nearly 60 pirate ships were destroyed carrying 1,224 guns and 3,150 men. The pirates who escaped onto the low islands in the mouth of the river were harassed by grape and destroyed and captured by the local Chinese. COLUMBINE was towed back to Hong Kong by FURY.
  • COLUMBINE returned to Chatham and was broken up in 1854.


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