HMS ''Levant'' was a 20-gun ''Cyrus''-class

sixth rate In the rating system of the Royal Navy used to categorise sailing warships, a sixth-rate was the designation for small warships mounting between 20 and 28 carriage-mounted guns on a single deck, sometimes with smaller guns on the upper works an ...

of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

built by William Courtney, of

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. She was captured by on 20 February 1815 during

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

. ''Levant'' was soon recaptured, and after 1817 was reclassified as a

sloop-of-war During the 18th and 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship of the Royal Navy with a single gun deck that carried up to 18 guns. The rating system of the Royal Navy covered all vessels with 20 or more guns; thus, the term encompassed all u ...

. She was broken up in 1820.

Career

''Levant'' was one of 16 ships of the ''Cyrus'' class that had the underwater lines of the French

prize A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people (such as sporting teams and organizations) to recognize and reward their actions and achievements.

''Bonne Citoyenne'' (though slightly reduced). ''Levant'' was launched in December 1813. Her first commander was Captain Alexander Jones (younger brother of Captain Charles Jones) who was replaced by George Douglas on 28 April 1814. Under Douglas, ''Levant'' travelled from England to

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and then to

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. While escorting two British convoys together with , a sixth-rate vessel, the two warships were attacked by USS ''Constitution'' under Captain Charles Stewart on 20 February 1815. Although peace had already been declared ''Constitution'' had not received official information about the

Treaty of Ghent The Treaty of Ghent () was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. It took effect in February 1815. Both sides signed it on December 24, 1814, in the city of Ghent, United Netherlands (now in ...

. ''Cyane'' and ''Levant'' were able to fire heavier broadsides than ''Constitution'' but were still outgunned by range and gun power by the American vessel. With excellent seamanship ''Constitution'' outmanoeuvred both ships and forced ''Cyane'' to surrender first. After placing a prize crew on board ''Cyane'', Stewart chased ''Levant'' down. The sloop surrendered after two broadsides fired by the American vessel and was also taken a prize. With the help of the British prisoners all three ships set course for the

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. A British squadron under

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eventually sighted ''Constitution'' in heavy weather off

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while he searched for ''Constitution''. However, she had returned to port, thus avoiding an engagement. Because

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

was unable to maintain its neutrality on its (former) soil the Portuguese government compensated the United States for the loss of ''Levant''. Captain John Sheridan commanded ''Levant'' from June 1815 until she was laid up in Chatham in November that year.

Fate

''Levant'' was intended to be repaired and returned to service in August 1820, but this was not carried out and she was broken up by 9 October 1820. Her captured ensign was on display at Mahan Hall at the

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, but was removed on 27 February 2018 for preservation.

Notes

Citations

References

*Gossett, William Patrick (1986) ''The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900''. (London: Mansell). * * Martin, Tyrone G. (2003) ''A Most Fortunate Ship. A Narrative History Of Old Ironsides''. Revised Edition. *

External links

*
USS Constitution Museum

Age of Nelson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levant (1813) 1813 ships Ships built in England Cyrus-class post ships Captured ships War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom