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POLYPHEMUS
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(64) |
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Built in 1782, Sheerness.
Hulk in 1813. |
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- 1799 Capt. LUMSDAINE, Ireland. She sailed from Yarmouth on 9 August 1800 with a squadron under Vice Ad. DICKSON in MONARCH bound for Denmark.
Because of lack of wind the faster sailing vessels had to tow the slower ones and it was the 15th. before they reached the Skaw.
The next day the whole squadron advanced as far as the mouth of the Sound where the Danes had anchored three 74-gun ships, later increased to four, between Cronberg Castle and the Swedish shore.
Because of gales the Admiral sheltered his squadron in Elsinor Roads then went in ROMNEY as far as Sophienburg to talk with Lord Whitworth who was negotiating with the Danish ministers.
When matters were resolved the squadron returned to Yarmouth in September. - 1801 Capt. John LAWFORD, with the fleet which bombarded Copenhagen on 2 April.
POLYPHEMUS lost Mr James BELL, midshipman, four semen and one marine killed and Mr Edward BURR, boatswain, twenty seamen and four marines wounded.
The division of the North Sea fleet commanded by Ad. GRAVES in POLYPHEMUS returned to Yarmouth from the Baltic on 13 July and then sailed to join Ad. DICKSON's squadron blockading the Dutch fleet in the Texel.
(It included VETERAN, RUBY, OTTER, VESUVIUS, BRUISER, CRACKER, HASTY, TEAZER, PIONCHER, ALECTO, SULPHUR, EXPLOSION, SPEEDWELL, QUEEN, SPECULATOR and ESPIEGLE.) - 1805 Capt. Robert REDMILL.
off Cadiz.
In July 1806 she was with Lord St. VINCENT's squadron off Ushant and on the 14th. her boats, together with others of the squadron, were taken by IRIS to Sir Samuel HOOD in INDEFATIGABLE off Rochefort to attack two French corvettes and a convoy at the entrance to the Garonne.
The weather on the 15th. appeared suitable for the attempt but after the boats left a strong wind blew up and although they managed to capture the 18-gun-brig CAESAR they could not prevent the convoy escaping up river.
The greater part of the boats were either shot through or so badly stove in that they were swamped, and had to be cut adrift from the brig as she was brought out under fire from the batteries and ex-British TEASER brig.
The casualties from POLYPHEMUS were William ANDERSON, Quarter Master's Mate, cut across the hand, and W. FLEMING.
Coxswain, cut across the eyebrow. - 1807 Capt. HEYWOOD, flagship of Rear Ad. MURRAY, South America.
- 1808 Capt. W. Price CUMBY, 05/1808, flagship of Vice Ad. B. S. ROWLEY.
In July she sailed for Jamaica, convoying a large fleet of merchantmen, for the Vice Admiral to take up his appointment.
Since he resided on shore with his flag in SHARK, POLYPHEMUS was able to undertake cruises against the enemy.
On the morning of 14 November he detached his boats under Lieut. Joseph DALY in the barge to chase a schooner attempting to enter the harbour at San Domingo.
An hour later she was boarded and carried under a hail of grape and musketry in which marine Samuel CROMPTON was killed and proved to be the French national schooner COLIBRY of 3 carriage guns commanded by Lieut. Deyrisse with 63 men. - In June 1809 Capt. CUMBY was appointed to command a squadron consisting of POLYPHEMUS, AURORA, TWEED, SPARROW, THRUSH, GRIFFIN, LARK, MOSELLE, FLEUR-DE-MER and PIKE.
They sailed from Port Royal on the 7th. with troops under Major General Carmichael to assist the Spanish forces besieging the French in the city of San Domingo.
On 1 July POLYPHEMUS anchored at Caleta and loaded eight of her lower deck guns into the SPARROW sloop to be landed at Palenqui for the use of the batteries to the westward of the town.
Two of the guns were then transported by Capt. BURT of SPARROW from Andre Bay to the east battery, nearly 30 miles across almost impassable country.
The French garrison surrendered on 6 July. - Capt. CUMBY was appointed to HYPERION in March 1811 and was succeeded by Capt. GRAVES (2) then Capt. DOUGLAS.
POLYPHEMUS paid off at Chatham in November 1812.
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