HMS Pandora (1806)

HMS ''Pandora'' was launched in 1806. She captured two privateers before she was wrecked in February 1811 off the coast of Jutland.

Career

Henry Hume Spence received his promotion to commander on 28 May 1806, and commissioned ''Pandora'' in December. She then served in the North Sea and on the Downs station. On 28 August 1807, ''Pandora'' was in company when captured the Danish droit ''Emanuel''.

On 13 January 1808, ''Pandora'' captured the French privateer ''Entreprenant'', of 16 guns and 58 men, six or seven miles SSE of Folkestone, with the assistance of the hired armed cutter ''Active''. The chase lasted an hour and 40 minutes and the French vessel did not strike until small arms fire from ''Pandora'' had wounded Captain Bloudin and five or six other men. ''Entreprenant'' was three days out of Calais and had captured the brig ''Mary'', of Sunderland.

''Pandora'' was among the many vessels present at the unsuccessful Walcheren Campaign and in the Scheldt in July–August 1809. She therefore shared in the subsequent prize money for the property the British army captured at that time.

Spence received promotion to post captain on 24 August 1809, Commander Richard Gaire Janvrin, who had been in charge of the port of Flushing during the British withdrawal, replaced him in October. On 12 October ''Pandora'', under Janvrin, was among the vessels in sight when her sister ship captured the Danish brig ''Friheden''.

In October 1810 Commander John Macpherson Ferguson replaced Janvrin, who had been promoted to post captain on 21 October. On 31 December ''Pandora'' captured the French privateer cutter ''Chasseur'', of 16 guns and 36 men. The privateer threw her guns overboard during the chase. ''Chasseur'' was two days out of the island of Fora but had made no captures.

Fate

''Pandora'' wrecked on 13 February 1811 on the Scaw Reef off the coast of Jutland. She was in company with the frigate and both vessels were at anchor in poor weather. When the weather eased, they sighted a brig near shore and launched their boats to capture her. ''Venus'' ordered ''Pandora'' to approach the brig to provide support for the boats. However, when the boats reached the brig they saw that she was a wreck and they turned around to return to their ships. The weather worsened, but when it cleared ''Pandora'' was able to retrieve her boats. However, the weather again worsened and as ''Pandora'' attempted to locate ''Venus'' ''Pandora'' grounded. She lost her rudder, and shortly after she had cut away her masts and fired distress guns she capsized on her side.

''Pandora''s boats were frozen to the deck and it was only on 15 February that the Danes were able to get boats to her and to rescue most of the crew; 27 of her crew of 121 had died of exposure and the rest became prisoners. Apparently, the Danes treated their prisoners with "all possible kindness and hospitality."

In March, after the Battle of Anholt, in which the British captured a large number of Danish prisoners, Captain Joseph Baker of proposed taking his Danish prisoners to Randers

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