Matrim

It might have been Chad who I think steamed his. I thought about it but was to nervous about just missing the shape so 'cut' mine. Doing great though so far so keep it up.. Joss

Looks good to me.

K, moving through the Amphion Captains we next come to Alexander Fraser. Now Michael Feather in his book on the Amphion states that not a lot is known concerning this officer and leaves it at that. Hmm. Let us see what I can come up with. So from a Captain whose father’s marriage provided him with a link to the aristocracy we move to a Captain who was part of a impoverished line of aristocracy. He is Alexander Fraser the eldest son o f the second son of the second son of the fifth Lord Lovat with a relationship to the first Marquis of Hamilton on his mother’s side. Born in Orkney in 1751 he probably took to the sea as a way of gaining fortune. His initial career appears steady if unspectacular and you would assume that what interest he had allowed him his initial position and little else. On passing for lieutenant in March 1773 he did not even receive his commission until July 1777. This gives some clue to his personality as the only way he could get promoted was to get noticed and this he did by his enthusiastic destruction of Falmouth in the American Revolution. Lord Sandwich promoting him directly provided the direct compliment ‘that it was for his services in America’ As first lieutenant in the Conqueror he was travelling back to Britain when the ship lost her mast in a hurricane. This was unfortunate in that he had received an offer of a place with a friend Commodore Johnstone and due to the storm was unable to arrive in time. On the other hand his exertions in saving the ship were noted by the Captain who stated that the ‘preservation of the ship was in a great measure owing to the efforts of Mr. Fraser. Showing seamanship to match his aggression earlier perhaps. In a career with lots of little actions he consistently did well – he was 1st when the Ruby (64) took the Solitaire of equal force – in later years that would be enough for a promotion but not for poor Alexander. He managed to be sent to the West Indies to serve under Admiral Pigot where peace ensured he was sent straight back then went back out with Sir R.Hughes and gained the friendship of Nelson. He did appear to start gaining the notice of the powerful for at this point Admiral Pigot requested him removed from the Collossus to be the first of his flagship this led to his promotion in the wave that accompanied the end of the war and he gained his step to Commander. Rear Admiral Alexander Fraser Naturally he then remained unemployed until 1790 when his connection with Admiral Pigot gained him the command of a sloop. When the revolution tarted his sloop capture La Custine a privateer then he was requested to seize a town in France which he did. In this interesting location supporting the Royalists his speed in keeping Whitehall informed of developments so impressed the Admiralty that he gained his step to post rank. His biographical record notes In April, 1793, he was directed to take the Ferret sloop and several cutters under his command, and proceed off Ostend : here he received a requisition from the Baron de Mylius, to land and take possession of the town and garrison ; with which he complied, and ran the Savage into the harbour, landing about 500 men, partly marines and partly seamen. On the 5th, he received from the Court of Brussels the intelligence, that General Dumourier had arrested Buernonville and the other Commissioners of the National Convention, and sent them to the Count de Clayrfait. This intelligence, of infinite consequence to the war, he instantly transmitted to the Admiralty ; and it was received in so very short a time, that Lord Chatham could scarcely believe the officer who brought the despatch. In four days afterwards, the French army refusing to march to Paris with Dumourier, he was himself obliged to fly, which of course put an end to the armistice between the Prince of Cobourg and him. This intelligence Captain Fraser received through the same channel, and was equally fortunate in the speedy transmission of it to the Admiralty. As he necessarily lived on shore, H. R. H. the Duke of York was pleased to order the Commissary-General to pay him one pound sterling per day for his table, which was continued all the time he remained on the station Now he controlled frigates and in the Shannon (32) he captured the le Duguay Trouin (24), ele Grand Indien (20) la Julie (18) and le Mouche (16). More frigate commands andsuccesfull escort duty ensued before he was placed in the Amphion. His command was limited to brining her out of ordinary and then escorting the Duke of Cambridge to Cuxhaven. This in itself was a plum role and shows that he was picking up friends and not through riches of which he had little but professional competence. His lineage probably helped as well. His stint in the Amphion was short and his next notable event was his participation in the 2nd attack on Copnehagen under Lord Gambier whilst in the command of the Vanguard. He was trusted enough to be responsible for the region after Gambier left though with little thanks from the merchants. His sea service was limited after this to the Royal Yacht and as equerry t the Duke of Cambridge. His promotion to Rear Admiral occurred due to seniority though it was not the yellow and he eventually reached the rank of Vice Admiral of the White. Fraser appears a solid and reliable officer who showed by his actions he deserved the promotions that were missing him by. Though starting without enough interest to get him out of the midshipmans berth his actions past this point started gaining him powerful supporters and his career rose accordingly. As with a lot of naval officers there are no know biographical records though he is mentioned as being a ‘strict’ officer in Gardiner with an ability to ignore near death experiences (my copy is in the loft so the actual quote will have to wait)

Thanks all. it is appreciated. Though the chances of me crashing and burning with it are still high. Joss

His Britanic Majesty though technically I should use HBMS (with ship at the end) - so I will change the title. HMS apparently started to come into common use in 1789 but there was a cross over period and I like it.. Joss

Cheers guys, though since I have the advantage of cleaning out the old log I have decided to cover the captains histories for a bit before getting back to the plans. Joss

Phew, thanks for taking the effort as I love your build Joss

My research on the ship is still continuing but initial work has been interesting. Taking the first few Captains for the subject of this post we start with Richard Henry Alexander Bennett – a whig Captain and nephew of the Duke of Northumberland Bennett is a very interesting character and he is one of the most unusual examples of how heroes are a special breed by what he did to show the opposite. Now please do not mis-understand me here. He was probably a brave and dedicated man he just consistently failed to go that extra mile and suffered in comparison with some of the more famous officers of his time. Bennett’s father was apparently a good looking man and popular with the ladies though not rich who managed the difficult feet of marrying a rich attractive woman whose younger sisters all married into the high aristocracy. This provided him with a powerful backer and that oh so important ‘interest’ – but not enough that he could rely on just that. Gossip at time I will conclude this digression on the Burrells by adding one fact more, scarcely less remarkable than those already commemorated; namely, that the charms which nature had so sparingly bestowed on the three younger sisters, who married some of the greater nobleman in Britain, were lavished on the eldest, who gave her hand to Mr. Bennet, a private gentleman. I have rarely seen, and scarcely ever known, a more captivating woman in every point of female attraction And Lord Percy, it is said, is to be married next week to Miss Burrell. Little Dick Bennet, who married one of her sisters long ago, is a droll, little fellow, and a sort of privileged man for talking freely to the ladies. In a circle of them, the other day, Lord Percy was spoken of, and somebody said that he had the gout: “ No Madam,” said little Bennet, “ I saw him this morning at my sister Burrell’s, making great love to her, and it is astonishing what a quantity he made” (Bennett senior) Bennetts first individual command had been a 24 gun brig - the Moselle (a French Capture).Soon after receiving her he sailed into the harbour at Toulon and not realising the French had re-taken the port was promptly captured. Not bad in itself but a week or so later Samuel Hood in the Juno did exactly the same but fought his way out. You may be accusing me of callousness and one man’s luck over another but let us move on. Bennett quickly received command of the Amphion having been exchanged and took her out to the West Indies. Whilst in command he captured a Spanish privateer. He also bumped into Graham Moore who was impressed with Bennett and the ship The Amphion sails very well seems to be in excellent order and is a very good cruiser, she takes her station just where I would wish her to be in the day time and takes care to close at sun set to avoid the risk of separation. I have good hopes of doing something in such a favourable cruising ground with so able a second It should be pointed out the Moore was often full of praise the first time he met a new ship and in this case even though the ships agreed to share prizes the night after this written the two ships separated and Moore assumed the Amphion had picked up a rich prize and decided to take it in. On the 2nd April he encountered a Spanish Brig which had indeed been boarded recently by the Amphion with a prize in company - another brig laden with suger. After moving on from the Amphion Bennett gained a parliamentary seat and gained another new frigate (probably connected) and was sent to join Nelson’s fleet in the Mediterranean. This should have resulted in wonderful things as Nelson (as is well known) was desperate for frigates and it was Bennett’s chance to join that band of brothers. It did not happen though because when Bennett reached Gibralter he was persuaded by a British General that rather than carrying out his orders it would be better if he instead couriered this General and his entourage back to Britain. Bennett was court martialled and Nelson’s dislike of his actions rings out in his letters. I do wonder if there is something else to it though as Bennett had been a midshipman under Collingwood in the Mediterranean (and would have been one of the senior Mids mentioned in Admiral Raigensfelds memoirs) so apart from having an excellent teacher would have encountered Captain Nelson. I wonder if there was a personal reason involved as well. Your letter of Decr 22nd: I only received the 26th: on my anchoring in the Gulf of Parma Sadinia. The Juno is the only frigate I have with me. She is going to Malta to get some small repairs and will then proceed to Trieste. My distress for frigates has been and still continues to be extreme, but I fear we have them not in England in sufficient numbers for the Service wanted. I never a, able to have one with the fleet as it is necessary to watch so many points. I felt sensibly the very long time you may have been detained at Trieste. The Anson was ordered for you two months ago but she has proved so leaky that she is ordered to be repaired and to proceed to England. The tribune went to England from Gibralter or Capt Bennet should have been ordered to attend to you, but I am sure you will find every polite attention from Captain Richardson. Nelson Bennett’s own letter to the Admiralty lists his reasons and was included in the Court Martial February 7th 1805 Sir I have the honor to inform you His Majestys’s Ship under my Command with the Carvel Revoyante and Convoy arrived at Gibralter on Dec 18th where we found His Majesty’s Ships Swiftsure and Sea Horse, the first of which sailed for Lord Nelson’s fleet the 20th On the 21st I received an application from General Thomas Trigge KB requesting me to order the Sea Horse to take him to England, to which I replied it was impossible for me to take on myself the ordering one of Lord Nelson’s best frigates home but I should sail the first opportunity with the Convoy for Malta, Captain Boyle would then be left senior Officer and might act from his own judgement. On the 22nd December having received information from Lt Gen Fox that the Spaniards had declared war against Great Britain on the 14th I thought it right to send the Sea Horse/ the Tribune not being ready for sea/ to give Lord Nelson the Intelligence and having ordered thirty of the 61st Regt on board the Carvel sent her with the Convoy to Malta and offered General Thomas Trigge a passage in this Ship, which he having accepted, I sailed from Gibralter on the 27th Dec and anchored here this day He continues to state he sent another frigate as cover for the convoy. His original orders incidentally were to take the convoy to Malta then to find Lord Nelson and put himself under his command. Nelson was less than impressed. Bennett survived his court martial (one of his judges was also an ex-Amphion captain – Admiral Fraser) and the need of the government to get votes might have caused his eventual recall to a 72. Here he performed well in the Mediterranean. At one point as Senior Captain in command of the Fama he and another ship attempted to hold a Spanish Coastal fort against St Cyr but seeing the forces arraigned against him he decided it was an impossibility and pulled his troops out. This may have been militarily a good decision if it was not for the fact a certain Captain Cochrane in his frigate turned up and did occupy the same fort and covered himself in glory holding back a French army for weeks. Oman states Captain West handed over the task of co-operating with the Spaniards to Captain Bennett. The latter thought so ill of the state of affairs that after two days he withdrew his marines from the Trinity Fort, an action most discouraging to the Spaniards. But at this juncture there arrived in the bay the Imperieuse Frigate, with her indefatigable commandant Lord Cochrane, a host in himself for such a desperate enterprise as the defence of the much-battered town. He got leave from his superior officer to continue the defence So Bennett allowed Cochrane to carry out the defence but stayed in the area with boats from his and Cochrane’s ships removing the garrison when all was almost lost. Later Oman also notes, along with some general comments on the correctness of Bennetts decisions in pulling out Cochranes forces Another futile charge made by the French against the British Navy, is that the Fama shelled the beach near the Citadel while the captive garrison was marching out, and killed several of the unfortunate Spaniards. If the incident happened at all (there is no mention of it in Lord Cochrane or James) it must have been due to an attempt to damage the French trenches; Captain Bennett could not have known that the passing column consisted of Spaniards. To insinuate that the mistake was deliberate, as does Belmas, is simply malicious. As I said he suffers by comparison but is obviously still carrying out his job to the best of his ability There were no command after this and apparently his politics was sufficient for a falling out with his patron and he died in 1818 (though had a stroke 1813) in middle age a few years after his father. He never married and we possess little in memoirs concerning him apart from a single affectionate letter written to his sister Lavinia Gordon in his later years.

For my next build I wanted to scratch build something that would mean something to me. I have done the Triton cross section and kits before but these all took from one to two years. For a scratch built frigate I would estimate it would take me around 8 to 10 years. Since that is a considerable portion of anyone’s life I wanted a subject that would stick with me. Not having a preference I started by preparing a short list of requirements A) It would have to be an English Napoleonic frigate. I have always been fascinated by the period (and have re-enacted as a Coldstream Guard at Hougomont on the anniversary of Waterloo and as an officer of the 40eme (part of Lannes’s 5th Corps) on the anniversary of Austerlitz (that was great as the re-enactment was on the site where the 5th Corps had fought and it was snowing) I was admittedly a bit of a Bonapartist on the land war. On the Sea war I am unashamedly a Royal Navy fan. It would have to be of English design and not a capture (see A) C) It would have to be smaller than most late war frigates as firstly size is an issue and secondly the early war was more challenging. The British dominance in the late war was of no interest to me D) It would have to have a story or something of interest for me to look into Now I then started to read around. Early candidates included A) The Shannon, should need no reason really though a personal connection for me is that I have held the sword Broke used in the Chesapeake battle and swished it around. In the end it failed on reasons C, plus it was built of fir which I found strangely unattractive The Guerriere – almost for the same reason as the Shannon but knocked out for reasons A and B plus C C) The Juno – Out of all the British Captains of the war Samuel Hood is one of my heroes. The problem with the Juno was that the Toulon incident was the primary one and that was not quite enough to fulfil D. If I ever do a 64 it will be Hood’s Zealous at the Nile D) The Phoebe – The fightingnest ship of the Napoleonic Wars. If you like ship to ship actions then this is the one. If I ever do a second frigate it will be the Phoebe as it stands my eventually winner trumped it on D So we now come to my winner. I had encountered it earlier in my reading but discarded it on C as its ‘famous’ action was a late war one at the battle of Lissa. I then encountered it again and the more I found out the more I grew interested. Its run of ‘interest’ was quite outstanding First up it was designed by Sir William Rule (the junior surveyor at the time) but had been extensively re-worked by Gambier at the Admiralty to take some more attributes of the Triton. This must have been mortifying for Rule but the resultant ship turned out well. Gardener states The modifications, presumably down to Gambier’s influence, show striking similarities with ideas behind the Triton ordered a month earlier: the extra length gave the ship the greatest length: breadth ratio of any frigate so far designed by the Surveyors, and the raked bow owes something to Triton’s most individual feature. Contrary to accepted wisdom this design-by-committee produced not a camel but a racehorse – in service the Amphion proved fast, weatherly and manoeuvrable, and was particularly good in strong winds. . So it had an interesting origin. I was initially further put off because Goodwin describes it as a fir ship and I have already stated my irrational dislike of fir. Fortunately (along with a mis-captioned Triton as the Amphion in his book) he was wrong and the Amphion was not fur built. Next up the ship had acted briefly as Nelson’s flagship on his way to the Med. I then found it had also transported the Archduke Charles on an abortive trip to Spain. Charles was the Austrians best fighting general so that was in itself an interesting point for me. It was also involved in the treasure ship action where four British frigates intercepted the Spanish treasure fleet under Graham Moore. The Amphion was fighting the Mercedes when she blew up possibly due to fire. So she now could be placed at a pivotal point in the war playing an important part. Moving on she was involved in the chase of the combined fleet to the Caribbean and back though being detached just before Trafalgar. Finally she was Hoste’s flagship at the battle of Lissa of which plenty has been written. All the above gave me plenty of interest but the decider was where she was built. The Amphion matched my pointy A because she was designed to be smaller than most standard frigates because the Admiralty wanted to use shipyards outside of the existing range. I also knew she was built in Essex but just assumed this meant a yard Southend way or on the Thames. When I eventually checked her actual build location (at Mistley) she was actually built on the Stour on the border between Essex and Suffolk very close to Manningtree and Capel. Most of my mother’s family come from (and still live in ) this very region. The possibility of my relatives knowing about her or even working on her were more than any other ship I could think of. The Amphion at Lissa -