HMS Albatross (1795)

HMS ''Albatross'' was the name vessel of her class of brig-sloops. She was built of fir and launched in 1796. She captured two privateers in the North Sea. She then sailed to the Far East. There she captured two French privateers in single-ship actions. She was sold in the Far East in 1807 and broken up in 1810.

Career

Commander George Scott commissioned ''Albatross'' in January 1796, for the North Sea

On 8 September 1797, ''Albatross'' 28 leagues south-west of the Naze of Norway when she encountered and captured the Dutch privateer ''Brave''. ''Brave'' was armed with five carriage guns, eight swivel guns, and a complement of 40 men, of whom only 25 were board. She was under the command of Hendrick Meyer Ditless. She had left Egeroe, Norway on 2 September and had not captured anything.

On 14 November 1797, ''Albatross'' captured the French privateer ''Emouchet'', of eight guns and 55 men.

Commander Scott was promoted to post captain on 15 June 1798. Commander Charles Adam recommissioned ''Albatross'' and sailed her to the East Indies. In March–June 1799, she was in the Red Sea. The British received information that the French had transferred warship frames to Suez to build some warships for the Red Sea. sailed to Mocha, where she met up with ''Albatross'' and sailed with her to Suez.

Commander Scott was promoted to post captain on 12 June 1799. Commander William Waller assumed command in 1800. Waller had been appointed in June 1799 to command ''Albatross'', but had to wait until she returned from the Red Sea before he could replace Scott.

''Albatross'' on 13 November 1800, captured the privateer brig , (or ''Adel''), at . ''Adèle'' was armed with 10 guns and had a crew of 60 men. ''Adèle'' initially assumed that ''Albatross'' was a merchantman. When the two met, ''Adèle'' attempted to board ''Albatross''. When ''Albatross'' repelled the attempt, ''Adèle'' attempted to escape, with ''Albatross'' sailing in chase. A close-quarters engagement ensued and eventually ''Adèle'' struck, and a British boarding party took possession of her.

''Adèle'' had lost six men killed and 13 wounded. ''Albatross'' had lost one marine and one seaman (from ) killed, and six men wounded (one of whom belonged to ''Braave'' and one to ). Nicholas Surcouf, ''Adèle''s captain, surrendered to Waller and offered him his sword, which Waller, as a sign of respect, declined to take.''Asiatic Annual Register...'' (1802), Vol.3, pp. 47–8.
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''Albatross'' had captured ''Adèle'' some 90 leagues south of the Sandheads (at the mouth of the Ganges River). ''Adèle'' arrived at Kedgeree on 25 November.

On 23 March 1801 ''Albatross'' captured , Étienne Bourgoin, master, at . ''Albatross'' had chased ''Gloire'' and had finally caught up with her around noon. After a close and severe action that lasted about 20 minutes Bourgoin struck. ''Gloire'' had lost five men killed and 12 wounded, Bourgoin and some of his officers being among the wounded; ''Albatross'' had no casualties.

At the time of her capture ''Gloire'' was armed with 10 guns, though she was pierced for 18, and had a crew of 111 men. She had left Mauritius with 183 men, but had taken six prizes requiring prize crews; she had also sunk several other prizes that were not worth putting a prize crew aboard.

Shortly after ''Albatross'' arrived at Madras Roads, the New Madras Insurance Company presented Waller with an honour sword, and the Old Madras Insurance Company presented him with a piece of plate, each worth £200, as a reward for the service he had rendered by capturing ''Adèle'' and''Gloire''."Chronicle for April 1801", ''Asiatic Annual Review'', Vol. 3, pp.62-63.

Waller was promoted to post-captain on 8 January 1801.

In August 1801, Lieutenant Charles Malcolm, of , was promoted to the rank of Commander, in ''Albatross''.

On 24 April 1802, Commander J. G. Vashon was promoted from command of ''Albatross'' to be captain of . His replacement, , was Lord George Stuart, who was promoted to Commander into ''Albatross''. He was promoted to post captain on 3 March 1804. In June Lieutenant John Batt took command of ''Albatross''. His replacement, in January 1807, was Commander John Bastard, who was promoted to captain on 12 October 1807.

Fate

''Albatross'' was condemned at Bombay and was sold in April 1807. She was broken up in 1810.''Naval Chronicle'' (January–July 1818), Vol. 1818.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Albatross (1795)
1795 ships
Sloops of the Royal Navy