| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSNymphe |
| Ordered | 14 December 1810 |
| Builder | George Parsons,Bursledon |
| Laid down | November 1811 |
| Launched | 13 April 1812 |
| Commissioned | May 1812 |
| Fate | Broken up |
| General characteristics[1] | |
| Class and type | 38-gunFifth ratefrigate |
| Tons burthen | 1087+9⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 154 ft 2 in (47.0 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 39 ft 8 in (12.1 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 4 in (4.4 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 284 officers and men (later 300) |
| Armament |
|
HMSNymphe was a 38-gunfifth ratefrigate of theRoyal Navy, launched on 13 April 1812 atWoolwich Dockyard, and commissioned later that month. She was aLively class of 18-pounder frigates, designed by theSurveyor of the Navy, SirWilliam Rule. It was probably the most successful British frigate design of the Napoleonic Wars, to which fifteen more sister ships would be ordered between 1803 and 1812.[1]
TheNymphe's first captain was Farmery Predam Epworth. TheNymphe sailed for North America on 9 July 1812. The French Navy's namesakeNymphe, accompanied by theMeduse was chased byUSS President andUSS Congress on 10 October 1812.[2] Whilst on the American station, she took the US privateersMontgomery on 5 May 1813, andJuliana Smith on 12 May 1813. Later that year, she took theThomas on 29 June 1813 andParagon on 14 August 1813.[1]
On 10 October 1813, theNymphe gave chase to three frigates and a brig-sloop commanded byCommodore Rodgers that had slipped out of Boston two days prior.[3] At the start of 1814, theNymphe was blockading Boston whenUSS Constitution broke out.[4] Present aboard theNymphe was the future historianHenry Edward Napier who kept a journal from March 1814 to September 1814, whilst blockading New England. From June 1814, she was commanded by Captain Joseph Price, and thereafter by CaptainHugh Pigot from October 1814 onwards.[5]
Under the rules of prize-money,Herald shared in the proceeds of the capture of six American vessels in theBattle of Lake Borgne on 14 December 1814. The British lost 17 men killed and 77 wounded.Anaconda then evacuated the wounded. In 1821 the survivors of the flotilla shared in the distribution of head-money arising from the capture of the American gun-boats and sundry bales of cotton.[6][a][b]
TheNymphe, accompanied by thesloop-of-warHMS Herald (18 guns), thebrig-of-warHMS Thistle (12 guns), theschoonerHMS Pigmy (10 guns), and two bomb vessels, was ordered to create a distraction near the Mississippi.[8] TheNymphe did not proceed up river.[9]
In February 1815, following news of ratification of the peace treaty, theNymphe was sent to Jamaica, to fetch the prisoners taken at Lake Borgne, and to repatriate the prisoners.[10]
From July 1815 to May 1816, theNymphe underwent Middling Repair at Portsmouth, and was then laid up in Ordinary. In August 1831, she was fitted as a temporary hospital ship at Portsmouth, and was atLeith by 1834. From December 1835 to May 1837, she was fitted at Chatham as a receiving ship, at a cost of £2,744. She was moored at Sheerness as a receiving ship from 1838 to 1855. She was fitted for use by the Water Police at Sheerness in July 1861. She was altered at Sheerness to a Roman Catholic Chapel from January to March 1863. In accordance with Admiralty Order dated 7 September 1871, she was renamedHandy.[1]
She was broken up at Chatham, as per Admiralty Order dated 31 December 1874. This was completed by 9 March 1875.[1]
Paul Benyon 1940-2019."Nymphe 1812".Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels and some of their movements. Retrieved15 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)