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CYRENE (20) Built in 1814, Bideford.
Sold in 1828.

  • 1815 Plymouth.
  • 1818 Capt. Aaron TOZER, Bermuda.
  • 1822 Capt. Percy GRACE, 01/1822, Plymouth, fitting out for anti-slavery work on the coast of Africa under the orders of Sir Robert MENDS.
  • When Capt. GRACE learnt that two schooners, which had been on the coast for more than two months, were ready to receive slaves on board from the factories in the Gallinas River, he sent to King Siacca requesting the liberation of the slaves which had been purchased.
    Late in the evening of 24 October 1822 CYRENE anchored in the mouth of the river and at daybreak the following morning her boats under Lieut. George COURPROY pulled, against a strong ebb tide, through the tremendous surf over the bar.
    They immediately came under musket fire from the jungle on each side, to which was added fire from two long 18-pounders and an 8-inch mortar as they reached the lower Factory Island.
    In spite of grounding seven times they managed to land on the island and turn the guns against the river banks.
  • Fire from the factories on the island and its neighbour prevented them interfering when the slaves held their were bundled into canoes and taken further up the river.
    Their ammunition was running short and the musket fire was increasing so they burnt as much as they could before spiking the guns and returning over the bar while the water was still high.
    Four Europeans and several natives were killed and many more wounded.
  • Lieut. COURTNEY was assisted by Lieut. George PIGOT; Mr William Lawrence HUNTER, second master; Messrs. Henry WINSOR and Malcolm M'NEALE, midshipmen, and Mr James BOYLE, the surgeon.
  • The Dutch schooner AURORA was captured and the schooner HYPOLITE (under French colours) was detained.
    The masters of the two schooners, Benjamin Liebray and Louis Gallon, with part of their crews, had fought on shore with the slavers which included 8 or 10 Europeans and Americans.
  • 180 slaves were subsequently brought off and taken to safety in Sierra Leone.
  • In December 1822 CYRENE detained another French schooner, CAROLINE, which, although 5 slaves were found on board her, was liberated by the court in Sierra Leone as was HYPOLITE.
    However the proceeds of CAROLINE's cargo was used to purchase the freedom of 80 men, women and children.
  • At the beginning of 1823 CYRENE took provisions to the garrison on Ascension Is.
    Between May and July she conveyed Sir Charles M'Carthy from the Gold Coast to Bathurst, a new settlement on an island in the Gambia River 100 miles south of Cape Verde.
    When he returned to Sierra Leone Capt. GRACE found that more than 130 Europeans and many natives had died of fever within one month, and any survivors who could were leaving the place.
    CYRENE did not escape, 13 petty officers and seamen died and others had to be sent home as the only chance of recovery.
  • CYRENE spent the last part of the year on an extensive cruise through the Cape Verde islands and on his return to Cape Coast Capt. GRACE learnt that Sir Robert had died aboard the OWEN GLENDOWER there on 4 September from an apoplectic fit.
    He found that Cdr. John FILMORE, who had come out as a passenger in the SWINGER gunbrig to command the BANN sloop in October, had appointed himself to the OWEN GLENDOWER and assumed chief command of the station.
    (He was not confirmed by the Admiralty and was not promoted to captain until August 1824 after he returned home.)
  • To avoid a dispute between senior officers Capt. GRACE decided to comply with an Admiralty order for CYRENE to return to England. She arrived on 7 February 1824 after passing through a violent hurricane off the Azores, 11 guns had to be thrown overboard to prevent her foundering.
  • CYRENE required extensive dockyard repairs before sailing for the Mediterranean where she joined Vice Ad. Sir Harry NEALE in a demonstration off Algiers which influenced the Bey to settle a dispute.
    From 6 November 1824 Capt. GRACE was senior officer of the Levant squadron protecting British trade until he was relieved by Capt. HAMILTON in CAMBRIAN the following year.
  • CYRENE was paid off at Deptford on 20 August 1825.
  • 1825 Alex.
    CAMPBELL, 08/1825, Woolwich for the East Indies. She was sold at Bombay in 1828 and Capt. CAMPBELL, who was posted April 1828, brought home the


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