HMS Berbice (1793)

HMS Berbice was the French privateer Berbice that the British Royal Navy captured in 1793 and took into service under her existing name. She ran aground three years later.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Berbice.
History
France
Name: Berbice
Namesake: Berbice
Captured: 1793
Great Britain
Name: HMS Berbice
Acquired: 1793 by capture
Fate: Foundered October 1796
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen: 120​66⁄94(bm)[1]
Length: 72 ft 9 in (22.2 m) (overall); 54 ft 0 in (16.5 m) (keel)
Beam: 20 ft 6 in (6.2 m)
Depth of hold: 6 ft 0 in (1.8 m) (overall)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Schooner
Complement: 55
Armament: 8 × 12-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder chase guns
Notes: Berbice may have been the earlier HMS Berbice.[2][1]

Career

Berbice was a French privateer schooner of eight guns that the Royal Navy captured early in 1793.[3]

The Navy commissioned her in October 1793 under Lieutenant Thomas Oliver, for the Leeward Islands station. However, she was already serving the Royal Navy in April 1793. Berbice, under Oliver's command, captured the French merchant sloops St Phillipe and Utile.[4]

There is some ambiguity about which officers commanded her and when. At one point Midshipman John F. Devonshire (eventually Admiral Sir John Devonshire), took command on the death of Berbice's commander. Devonshire then patrolled the coasts of Puerto Rico where he, with the Spaniards, suppressed the French privateers that not only impeded the island's commerce, but also materially obstructed the resupply of the British army in Martinique.[5] During a slave uprising at Saint Lucia, Devonshire successfully conveyed Lieutenant-General William Myers to the island during the hurricane season.[6]

Apparently Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere commanded her too, though Oliver paid her off later. Lieutenant John Pasco (or Pascoe) recommissioned her in December 1795, again for the Leeward Islands.[1] Berbice was one of the many vessels that shared in the proceeds of the surrender of the island of Saint Lucia on 25 May 1796 by the British forces under the command of Admiral Hugh Cloberry Christian and Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.[7]

Loss

Berbice was under the command of Lieutenant John Trehaser (or Tresaher) when she wrecked on Scotsman's Head (15.416667°N 61.333333°W / 15.416667; -61.333333), Dominica, on 26 October 1796. She had been cruising in company with Lacedemonian when they separated in the dark and rain. Berbice continued on Lacedemonian's last known course and proceeded to wreck.[8] There were 42 men aboard Berbice; none were lost.[9]

Citations
  1. Winfield (2008), p. 356.
  2. "NMM, vessel ID 380828" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol xii. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  3. Demerliac (1999), p. 303, n°2839.
  4. Steel (1805), p. 17.
  5. United Service journal, 1840, Part 1, January, p.95.
  6. Marshall (1832), Vol. 3, Part 2, p.181.
  7. "No. 15265". The London Gazette. 7 June 1800. p. 623.
  8. Hepper (1994), p. 82.
  9. Gilly (1864), p. 373.

References
  • Demerliac, Alain (1999). La Marine de la Révolution: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1792 à 1799 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 9782906381247. OCLC 492783890.
  • Gilly, William O.S. (1864). Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy Between 1793 and 1857 Compiled Principally from Official Documents in the Admiralty. Longman, Green.
  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
  • Marshall, John (1823–1835). Royal naval biography, or, Memoirs of the services of all the flag-officers, superannuated rear-admirals, retired-captains, post-captains, and commanders, whose names appeared on the Admiralty list of sea officers at the commencement of the present year 1823, or who have since been promoted ... London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown.
  • Steel, David (1805). Steel's Prize Pay Lists; new series ... Corrected to the first of April, 1805. David Steel.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.

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