HMS Matilda (1794)

HMS ''Matilda'' was the French corvette ''Jacobine'' (or ''Jacobin''), which was launched in March 1794 and which the British captured in the West Indies seven months later. ''Matilda'' served in the West Indies until 1799, capturing six small privateers. In 1799 she sailed to Woolwich where she became a hospital ship. Between 1805 and 1807 she was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Henry Stanhope. She was broken up in 1810.

Origins

''Jacobine'' was originally named ''Bonheur'', but received the name change before she was launched. She was built to a one-off design by Pierre Degay.

''Jacobine'' was under the command of ''lieutenant de vaisseau'' Dalbarde from 3 April 1794 until 13 September 1794. She initially was stationed at Nantes. She then sailed from Mindin (opposite Saint-Nazaire), to Brest. From there she made a patrol in the Atlantic, returning to Brest. Her next commander was ''lieutenant de vaisseau'' Dandicolle.

Capture

and captured ''Jacobine''. She was armed with twenty-four 12-pounder guns, and had a crew of 220 men; she was nine days out of Brest and had taken nothing. The capture took place on 31 October 1794, about 30 leagues west of Cape Finisterre. ''Ganges '' and ''Montague'' were sailing to the West Indies and took ''Jacobine'' with them.

Career

The Royal Navy in July 1795 commissioned ''Matilda'' under Commander George Vaughan. (Because she was a sixth rate she would normally be a post captain's command, and Vaughan indeed received the requisite promotion in November.) In fact, ''Matilda'' was already in service by July.

Vice-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell, the commander-in-chief of the Barbados and Leeward Islands station had stationed her off Basseterre, Guadeloupe. She joined up with him at Saint-Pierre, Martinique, on 29 June with the report that the day before she had seen a French squadron of nine ships, three of them large frigates. They had chased him off, and sailed into the port.

She had also qualified to share in the proceeds of the capture of Saint Lucia in 25 May by the naval forces under Admiral Hugh Cloberry Christian and troops under Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

In December Captain Captain Robert Otway replaced Vaughan. In May 1796 Captain Henry Mitford replaced Otway.

On 13 February 1797 ''Matilda'' captured a French navy schooner of two guns and 38 men. The capture took place off Barbados and Captain Mitford sent the schooner into port there.

At some point between 25 July and 5 October, ''Matilda'' detained the sloop ''Mary'', of 104 tons (bm) and ten men, of Saint Thomas. She was sailing from Saint Thomas to Suriname. She was carrying cash and dry goods, had a crew of Frenchmen, and had false invoices.

On 14 January 1798, Mitford and ''Matilda'' arrived at English Harbour, Antigua. There Mitford arrested Thomas Pitt, Lieutenant Lord Camelford, of . He had shot and killed Lieutenant Charles Peterson, was in command of . Both vessels were in the harbour undergoing refit when they got into a dispute over who was the senior commander. Camelford accused Paterson of mutiny, and shot him. The two ships' companies came close to firing on each other. The subsequent court martial acquitted Camelford.

On 19 January ''Matilda'' captured the French privateer ship ''Ceres'' off Antigua. ''Ceres'' was pierced for 14 guns but only carried two. She had a crew of 45 men, and was sailing from Saint Bartholomew's to Guadeloupe to complete her fitting-out. She was carrying a cargo of pitch and tar.

''Matilda'' was still north of Antigua when on 29 and 31 March she captured two privateers. On 29 March she captured the sloop ''Vautour'', of 10 guns and 64 men. Then two days later, ''Matilda'' captured the brig ''Aigle'', of 12 guns and 86 men. ''Matilda'' also captured the privateer ''Maria'', of two guns and 24 men. She sent all three into Antigua.

The waters off Antigua continued to be productive for ''Matilda''. On 29 June she captured ''Annibale'', of 14 guns and 97 men. Then on 23 June ''Matilda'' captured ''Etoile'', of six guns 53 men.

The arrival of an Admiralty Order dated 27 June 1798 confirmed the commissioning of ''Matilda'', and the name change from ''Jacobine''.

''Matilda''s last capture took place on 5 October, again off Antigua. The captured privateer was ''Intrepid'', of 14 guns and 74 men. She was three days out of Guadeloupe and had not yet taken anything.

''Matilda'' sailed for England and arrived at Woolwich on 15 October 1799. There she was hulked and became a hospital ship under the command of a succession of lieutenants. From December her commander was William Lanyon who served until January 1801. In May 1803, Lieutenant J. James recommissioned her. His replacement in August 1804 was Thomas D. Birchall, who served until 1807.

Between 1805 and 1807, ''Matilda'' was also the flagship for Rear-Admiral Henry Stanhope.

Fate

''Matilda'' was broken up in 1810.

Notes

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Matilda (1794)
Ships built in France
Corvettes of the French Navy
Captured ships
Sixth rates of the Royal Navy
1794 ships