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DOVER
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Built in 1804, Bombay. Purchased as DUNCAN in 1805.
Renamed DOVER in 1807.
Wrecked in 1811. |
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- 1807 Capt. Edward TUCKER, East Indies.
In 1809 Vice Ad. DRURY was directed to put the islands of Java and the Moluccas under strict blockade but, since he lacked the resources he decided that seizing the principal settlement in the eastern Islands and destroying the shipping in the Moluccas would accomplish the same result.
To execute this service he selected DOVER with CORNWALLIS and SAMARANG under Capt. TUCKER's orders.
Since the squadron was deficient in marines two companies from one of the native regiments were embarked on the first two. DOVER's first lieutenant was Mr INCLEDON; the master, Mr GARLAND: the purser, Mr PALMER; the gunner, Mr GREEN. - During December 1809 and January 1810 DOVER and her boats captured 15 proas and a brig off Batavia.
Between them they carried 50 guns.
On 6 February 1810 DOVER captured two Dutch brigs-of-war, REMBANG (18) and HOOP (10) off the island of Amboyna.
DOVER was joined on the 9th. by CORNWALLIS and the Dutch sloop MANDARINE (12) which she had taken, and they sailed up the harbour of Amboyna and anchored in Latitia Bay. The anchorage was protected by numerous batteries erected since the English restored the island to the Dutch in 1803.
On 16th. 176 troops and 85 seamen and marines from DOVER joined 140 seamen and marines from the other two ships in the boats. As the ships bore up together, the boats were all slipped at the same moment within a cable's length of the landing place a little to the right of Portuguese Bay. They immediately began an assault on the batteries on the heights. Meanwhile the ships bombarded the port and its batteries for two and a half hours. Two field pieces were landed from DOVER during the night together with 40 men from SAMARANG who got the guns up to the heights.
On the 18th. the original force marched in to Fort Victoria and took possession, the enemy having previously laid down their arms. One seaman from DOVER was killed and four were wounded. Two cutters and a brig, the MANDURESE (12) were sunk by the Dutch in the harbour on the 19th. The brig was later raised. There were 52 vessels of all kinds in the harbour. Following the fall of Amboyna two ships, the PATMAN DAMVERS and the PATHOLGAIR, a brig, CHARLOTTE and a ketch, SALO SALA, were captured. They were from Sourabaya, richly laden with supplies of every kind. - During the following two weeks the valuable islands of Saparoua, Harouka, Nasso-Laut, Bouro and Manippa surrendered.
After sending all the Dutch officers and troops from Amboyna to Java, Capt. TUCKER sailed for the Dutch port of Gorontello, in the Bay of Tommine, on the north-east part of the island of Celebes in June 1810.
Although the Dutch flag was flying over fort Nassau, the settlement was governed by a Sultan and his two sons on behalf of the Dutch East India Co. He persuaded the Sultan to allow the British to replace the Dutch.
Manado, where Fort Amsterdam was protected by two heavy batteries, surrendered without opposition when Capt. PARKER pointed out that an English frigate, with guns ready to fire and volunteers waiting in her boats, was waiting to storm the Dutch position. Manado had a garrison of 113, including officers, and the fort and the batteries mounted 50 guns. - On 21 August 100 troops under Capt. Forbes of Madras European regiment were embarked on board DOVER at Amboyna. She sailed for Ternate and sighted the island on the 25th. but because of light airs it was early in the morning of the 28th. before a landing could be effected.
The party consisted of 74 Europeans of the coast artillery and Madras European regiment, 32 natives from the Amboyna corps, 36 marines and 32 seamen, 174 including officers. - They had intended to land near Fort Kayo Meirah and storm the walls but an unfavourable current kept them offshore until after daylight when they landed out of the line of fire behind a point of land. A calm prevented DOVER from closing before the afternoon when Capt. PARKER called on the governor to surrender but the ultimatum was rejected. During the night the winds and current were unfavourable so it was the afternoon of the 29th. before Lieut. JEFFERIES and the seamen who had landed could be got back on board together with Lieut. Higginson and a few marines. DOVER then opened fire three batteries and Fort Orange with grape and canister while the troops ashore engaged a numerous body of the enemy. By five in the evening flags of truce were hoisted and three officers came on board to arrange a surrender. One royal marine was killed and 6 seamen and 1 royal marine wounded.
- DOVER returned to MADRAS without the loss of one man by sickness.
- With Lieut. Charles GENERIS as acting captain, DOVER was wrecked in the Madras Road on 2 May 1811 by a hurricane which arose as she was departing for an expedition against Batavia.
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