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PROSPERPINE
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Built in 1807, Humber.
Taken in 1809. |
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- 1807 Capt. Charles OTTER, 09/1807, fitting out at Chatham.
Early in 1808 she conveyed Lord Leverson Gower, the British Ambassador to Russia, from Gottenburg to England.
In February 1808 Mr D. CUNNINGHAM, boatswain of PROSPERINE, was dismissed his ship for drunkenness. - 1809 Mediterranean.
- On the evening of 27 February 1809 PROSPERINE was at her station off Cape Sicie. She attempted to cut off some of the small coasting vessels running inshore towards Marseilles but lack of wind frustrated the attempt and by midnight she lay becalmed some 5 or 6 miles from the Cape.
There was bright moonlight but the moon being to seaward they could not see vessels inshore while they themselves were silhouetted against the horizon.
Mr BROWN, the master, was officer of the watch and as Lieut. RIGBY came up to relieve him at 4 o'clock two men-of-war were sighted coming up fast towards them with a fine land breeze.
Within 20 minutes one of the ships ranged along PROSPERINE's larboard side, her ports all up while, as the wind died away completely, the other came up on her starboard side.
When Capt. OTTER beat to quarters the ship on the larboard side opened up with a broadside while her consort fell astern and continually raked the British ship.
PROSPERINE was soon a wreck and with two French 74's, SUFFREIN and AJAX, coming up fast Capt. OTTER decided to surrender in order to save the lives of his people.
The two French ships, PENELOE and PAULINE, frigates with 44 guns and 360 men each, took her into Toulon.
PROSPERINE lost one man killed outright when his head was blown off.
(He had twin sons serving on board and the previous evening he had been scolded for scrubbing their hammocks for them when they were big enough to do it for themselves) One marine was mortally wounded and 11 men slightly wounded. - On 30 May 1814, on his release from captivity in France, Capt. OTTER was honourably acquitted of all blame for the loss of his ship.
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