British Sixth Rate post ship 'Constance' (1797)

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Constance	3678
Nominal Guns	22	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Previously	French Sixth Rate corvette 'La Constance' (1794) (22)
Captured	9.3.1797	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Le Havre - Normandy	BWAS-1793
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Post Ship
Captured	12.10.1806	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck121' 8"Imperial Feet36.8905
Length of Keel103' 4 ¾"Imperial Feet31.4135
Breadth31' 1 ¼"Imperial Feet9.4552
Depth in Hold9' 8"Imperial Feet2.9464
Burthen532 ⁹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1799Broadside Weight = 99 Imperial Pound ( 44.8965 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck22 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1799170EstablishmentBWAS-1793

4 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
7.1799 - 1.1803CaptainJohn Baker HayBWAS-17934.1801 - 9.1802CaptainZachariah Mudge (1770-1852)ODNB1.1803 - 1803CaptainAnselm John Griffiths (d.1842)BWAS-17937.1806 - 12.10.1806CommanderAlexander Saunderson Burrowes (d.1806)†BWAS-1793

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
15.1.1803 - 19.10.1803LieutenantColin MacDonaldNBD1849

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
3.1803 - 20.8.1805Master's MateLestock Francis Boileau (1785-?)NBD1849

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
6.1802 - 18031st Class VolunteerMaurice Frederick Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788-1867)NBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
3.1797Arrived at Plymouth (Date uncertain) and laid upBWAS-1793
11.1799Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1793
12.1799Completed a very small repairBWAS-1793
27.7.1801Took the Privateer Cantara (12) off Cape Ortegal
9.9.1806Action of 9th September 1806
12.10.1806Took the French storeship Salamandre near St Malo, but ran aground and was taken by the French. Captain Alexander Burrows and eight others were killed in the action, 16 were wounded.BWAS-1793
12.10.1806Action of 1806-10-12
12.10.1806Taken by the French near St Malo

Notes on Ship

A COURT MARTIAL was held on board the Gladiator, at Portsmouth, on the 27th October, on the remaining officers of His Majesty's late ship Constance. The following was the sentence of the Court:

" That having heard the evidence, and completed the inquiry, and having maturely and deliberately weighed and considered the whole, the Court is of opinion, that the loss of His Majesty's said ship Constance was caused by her getting aground on the French coast, after a severe action with the French ship Saiavaandre, and the batteries on the French shore, and the capture of the said ship; and that the conduct of Captain Burrowes, Commander of the said ship, who fell in the action, and of the surviving officers and ship's company, was brave, meritorious, and praise-worthy, on the occasion; and doth adjudge the said surviving officers, and ship's company, to be honourably acquitted accordingly.

" And the Court is further of opinion, that the conduct of Captain Thicknesse, in leading the sh

Sources

IDDescriptionAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif WinfieldBook

ODNBOxford University PressWeb Site

NBD1849O'BrienDigital Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Tim Oakley on Monday 20th of May 2019 18:18

12 Oct 1806 Constance, Strenuous, Sheldrake and cutter Britannia chase the French store-ship Salamandre on shore : she was set on fire and destroyed, but the Constance went aground and was lost to the French.
The following were killed:
Captain Burrowes ; Benjamin Leviston, Serjeant of Marines ; William Bunbridge, Seaman ; John Charlotte, Seaman ; Edward Ryan, Seaman ; John M'lreson, Quarter-Master ; Robert Robinson, Boatswain's Mate ; John Gillford, Quarter-Master ; John Wilson (2), Quarter-Master.
The following have since died of their wounds:
Luke Coglan, Seaman ; Thomas M'Andrew, Marine ; John Patterson, Quarter-Master.
The following were badly wounded:
Daniel McCawley, Boatswain ; William Morton, Marine.
The following were slightly wounded:
Mr. Richards, First Lieutenant ; John Navy, Seaman ; John Clark, Seaman ; Thomas Howe, Seaman ; Thomas Little, Seaman ; Peter Murrow:, Seaman ; Edward Trout, Seaman ; John Flynn, Seaman ; Samuel Breasur, Seaman ; Robert Wallas, Seaman.

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