History of HMS CHATHAM: 1758-1814
Here is the story of HMS CHATHAM from 1758 to her tired end in the
19th century. Not a dazzling history, to be sure, but a solid one, and one that figures well for its cameo in the Rebellion.
CHATHAM, 50, (1758 Portsmouth Dock Yard. Broken up in 1814) Capt. John Lockhart, with Rear Admiral Rodney's squadron
which attacked L'Havre on 3 July to destroy French invasion preparations and with Hawke in the action in Quiberon Bay on 20
November.
1759 On 18 May CHATHAM, VENUS, and THAMES captured the French ARETHUSE, 36.
1761 Capt. Thomas Lynn, with Rear Admiral Cornish in the East Indies. Cornish took his
four ships into Bombay for a refit and then went southward in the hope of meeting reinforcements from England.
1776 Capt. Toby Caulfield, with Sir Peter Parker acting as commodore of a squadron of five 50-gun
ships, the others being PRESTON, CENTURION, RENOWN, and EXPERIMENT, and some smaller ships with 7000 troops, which sailed
from New York on 1 December and landed at Newport, a popular base for privateers, on the 8th to occupy Rhode Island and Narragansett
Bay. It was retained for the next three years.
1779 Capt. William Allen. On 20 November CHATHAM and HUSSAR, convoying the trade from Lisbon
fell in with a large Spanish ship. HUSSAR came up with her the next morning and forced her to strike. She was
the N.S. DEL BUEN CONFESO, pierced for 64 guns but mounting twelve, from Lima for Cadiz. Although she had landed some
of her treasure at Fyal she still proved a rich prize.
1781 Capt. Andrew Sape Douglas. On 20 March CHATHAM was part of a force which convoyed
2000 troops from New York to the Chesapeake and the James River. After a long chase on 2 September CHATHAM overtook
the French frigate MAGICIENNE, 32, which was sailing from Boston to Portsmouth N.H. Although the frigate was completely
outclassed she exchanged broadsides with CHATHAM for 30 minutes before striking with the loss of 32 killed and 86 wounded.
By contrast CHATHAM had 1 killed and 1 wounded.
1793 Harbour service.
1805 Powder hulk.
1810 Renamed Tilbury.
1814 Broken up at Chatham.
