HMS Lord Melville (1813)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Lord Melville |
| Builder | Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, Kingston |
| Launched | 1813 |
| Renamed | Star on 22 January 1814 |
| Honours and awards | War of 1812 |
| Fate | Sold in 1837 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Schooner, altered to 14-gun brig in 1813 |
| Tons burthen | 186 46⁄94 bm |
| Length | |
| Beam | 24 ft 8 in (7.5 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft 9 in (3.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 8 ft 0 in (2.4 m) |
| Complement | 98 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Lord Melville (also known as HMS Melville) was a brig of the Royal Navy launched at Kingston, Ontario, on 20 July 1813. Initially designed as a schooner, she was altered to 14-gun brig in 1813. She served on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812, and was renamed HMS Star on 22 January 1814. By 1815, she was unfit for anything but transport duties. She was sold in 1837.
Description
Lord Melville was initially ordered as a
Service history
As Lord Melville
During a survey of the shipyard at
Yeo's squadron returned to Lake Ontario on 24 August and sailed for Niagara. On 11 September, the British squadron became becalmed off the Genesee River, where it was set upon by the American squadron. Lord Melville and Royal George were the vessels closest to the American squadron and bore the brunt of the cannon fire. Between the two vessels, they suffered four men killed and five wounded, but the British squadron escaped. In a following engagement on 28 September, after the flagship of the British squadron, Wolfe was dismasted, Lord Melville and Earl of Moira attacked the American battle line, exchanging heavy fire with Madison, Oneida and Governor Tompkins. Lord Melville was nearly captured by the American flagship General Pike. The British retreated into Burlington Bay. Lord Melville and Beresford patrolled while Wolfe and Royal George made repairs. The squadron returned to Kingston after the two larger vessels were capable of sailing.[7]
As part of the British attempt to intercept the American army marching on Montreal in October, the smaller vessels in the squadron were detached under Captain William Mulcaster and sailed to French Creek. There, four vessels, including Lord Melville bombarded the Americans. The British were forced to withdraw after the American gunnery from the shore became too intense. Mulcaster's force suffered one killed and five injured. In November, the squadron remained mostly at anchor due to the weather and Lord Melville made one final trip on 3 December before being laid up for the winter.[8]
As Star
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The brig was renamed Star on 22 January 1814, reclassified as a brig-sloop and command was given to
The squadron sailed again on 11 May and began a naval blockade of the main American naval base on Lake Ontario, Sackett's Harbor on 19 May. Star was used to transport troops to the Burlington and Niagara regions while the larger vessels of the squadron maintained the blockade. Following the British defeat at Sandy Creek where a detachment from the squadron had been captured or killed, Yeo lifted the blockade on 5 June and the British squadron returned to Kingston.[11]
Two
On 20 October, the larger ships of Yeo's squadron arrived off the Niagara River, forcing the Americans to withdraw. Star, Charwell and Netley came out to Yeo's vessel and disembarked the infantry reinforcements and supplies they carried for Drummond's army. This took until 22 October and the entire squadron returned to Kingston on 24 October. On 1 November, the squadron sailed again to Niagara, ferrying infantry to Fort George and returned with troops bound for Kingston. On 28 November, Montreal (the renamed Wolfe), Niagara (the renamed Royal George), Charwell, Star and Netley sailed from Kingston to resupply the army in the Niagara region. They returned on 9 December.[13]
Star was fit for nothing but transport duties by 1815.[5] In 1815, the vessel was placed under the command of Acting Lieutenant Massy Herbert. Star was paid off into reserve in June 1816.[2] She was sold in 1837.[5]
Citations
- ^ a b Malcomson 2001, p. 96.
- ^ a b c d Winfield 2005, p. 629.
- ^ a b Lardas 2012, pp. 60–61.
- ^ a b Malcomson 2001, p. 335.
- ^ a b c d e f Lyon & Winfield 2004, p. 86.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, pp. 168–178, 183.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, pp. 189–191, 193, 200–203, 207.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, pp. 218–219, 227.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, p. 264.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, pp. 266–267, 270, 273–275.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, pp. 277–278, 282.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, pp. 291–292, 296–297.
- ^ Malcomson 2001, p. 308.
References
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Lardas, Mark (2012). Great Lakes Warships 1812–1815. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-566-3.
- Lyon, David; Winfield, Rif (2004). The Sail & Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.
- Malcomson, Robert (2001) [1998]. Lords of the Lake: The Naval War on Lake Ontario 1812–1814 (Paperback ed.). Toronto: Robin Brass Studio. ISBN 1-896941-24-9.
- Winfield, Rif (2005). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.
Further reading
- David Lyon (1997). The Sailing Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy, Built, Purchased and Captured, 1688-1860. London. ISBN 0-85177-864-X.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - Robert Malcomson (2001). Warships of the Great Lakes: 1754–1834. Annapolis. ISBN 1-55750-910-7.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - Jonathan Moore (2006). Archaeological and Historical Investigations of Three War of 1812 Wrecks at Kingston, Ontario : HMS St. Lawrence, HMS Kingston and HMS Burlington : Report for Province of Ontario Licence to Conduct Archaeological Exploration or Fieldwork 1999-096 at Sites BbGd-6, BbGc-45 and BbGc-46. Ottawa. ISBN 0-9781712-0-9.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link