HMS San Domingo (1809)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS San Domingo.

Sir Richard Strachan on HMS San Domingo, conducting the bombardment of Flushing during the Walcheren Campaign of 1809[1]
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS San Domingo
Ordered	30 October 1805
Builder	Woolwich Dockyard
Laid down	June 1806
Launched	3 March 1809
Fate	Sold, 1816
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	Modified Courageux-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	1820 (bm)
Length	180 ft (55 m) (gundeck)
Beam	48 ft 0+3⁄4 in (14.649 m)
Depth of hold	20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	Gundeck: 28 ×  32-pounder guns Upper gundeck: 28 ×  18-pounder guns QD: 4 ×  12-pounder guns + 10 ×  32-pounder carronades Fc: 4 ×  12-pounder guns + 2 ×  32-pounder carronades Poop deck: 6 ×  18-pounder carronades

HMS San Domingo was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 March 1809 at Woolwich.^[2] She was sold in 1816.

Career

On 14 August 1812 Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on San Domingo}, together with Poictiers, Sophie, Magnet, and Mackerel. Magnet disappeared during the voyage and was presumed foundered with all hands.

On 17 January 1813 San Domingo captured the American privateer schooner Teazer.^[3]

On 13 April 1813, Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron, consisting of his flagship, San Domingo, and Marlborough, Maidstone, Statira, Fantome, Mohawk, and Highflyer pursued four schooners into the Rappahannock. The British sent boats 15 miles upriver before capturing their prey.^[4]

• Arab, of seven guns and 45 men, was run aground and boarded by two boats from Marlborough.^[4]
• Lynx, of six guns and 40 men, hauled down her colours when Borlase went alongside her in San Domingo's pinnace.^[4]
• Racer, of six guns and 38 men, was boarded and carried, after a sharp, resistance, by the San Domingo's pinnace.^[4]
• Dolphin, of 12 guns and 98 men surrendered after Racer's guns were turned on her. Dolphin resisted for two hours but then was boarded by men from Statira's large cutter and Maidstone's launch.^[4]

The British lost two men killed and 11 wounded. The Americans lost six killed and 10 wounded.^[4]

The British took three of the schooners into service. The Chesapeake schooner Lynx became Mosquidobit. Of the three Baltimore schooners, the Racer became Shelburne; Dolphin retained her name; lastly, it is not clear what became of Arab.

San Domingo was driven ashore at Halifax, Nova Scotia, British North America, during a gale on 12 November 1813. She was refloated, repaired, and returned to service.^[5]

Fate

San Domingo was sold out of the Navy in 1816.^[2]

Footnotes

1. "Walcheren Expedition, 28th July 1809 - December 1809".
2. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 188.
3. "No. 16713". The London Gazette. 20 March 1813. p. 580.
4. "No. 16732". The London Gazette. 22 May 1813. p. 995.
5. "Marine List". Lloyd's List (4833): 78 v. 27 December 1813.

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.