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HMS Druid (1783)
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HMS Druid (1783)
HMS Druid was a 32-gun Hermione-class fifth-rate frigate of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1783 at Bristol. She served in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, capturing numerous small prizes. One of her commanders, Captain Philip Broke, described Druid as a "point of honour ship", i.e., a ship too large to run but too small to fight. He and his biographer's view was that it was a disgrace to use a ship like her as a warship. She was broken up in 1813, after a thirty-year career.
Druid entered service in 1783 under the command of Captain John MacBride. He was succeeded the following year by Captain George Byron, who commanded her off Land's End. Captain Joseph Ellison replaced Byron in 1785, and remained in command for the next ten years. Druid served as a Royal escort between 1785 and 1788, returning to service in 1791 after a period paid off and under refit.
On 31 January 1788 a boat belonging to Druid captured the smuggler's lugger Revenge in Cawsand Bay. The lugger, under the command of a Henry Carter, belonged to Guernsey and was bringing in alcohol and other prohibited goods. Before Druid's boat could board the lugger, the smugglers fired on it. In the subsequent action, the smugglers killed one of Druid's crew and wounded seven. By the time the boarding party reached the lugger, the master and ten crewmen had fled. The British Government offered a pardon to any smuggler, other than the master, giving information leading to the arrest of two other smugglers, and also offered a reward of £200 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of two or more smugglers.
Druid sailed to Jamaica in April 1792 and, with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, returned to operate in home waters.
At some point in 1793 she was in company with Circe when they captured the French merchant vessels Vaudrieul and Diare. Druid herself also captured the Dauphin. In June she captured the French 12-gun privateer Esperance in the English Channel.
In late 1793 Druid served in a small squadron under the command of Sir James Saumarez in the frigate Crescent, together with the brig Liberty and the hired armed cutter Lion. They convoyed some transports with troops for Jersey and Guernsey, and there picked up pilots for Admiral MacBride. On 28 November Saumarez detached Lion to take the pilots to MacBride. On 5 December, Saumarez took his two frigates and the brig to the Isles of Bréhat. As they were maneuvering to attack some French vessels resting there, which escaped, Druid hit a rock, damaging herself. Saumerez sent her and Liberty into Plymouth for repairs.
In early 1794, Druid was in company with Flora, Sheerness, Echo, and Shark when Flora captured the French sloop Viper. Viper was a new sloop of 18 guns and was captured outside of Havre de Grace.
Also in 1794, Druid was part of a frigate squadron that escaped from the 50-gun French Scévola and Brutus.
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HMS Druid (1783)
HMS Druid was a 32-gun Hermione-class fifth-rate frigate of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1783 at Bristol. She served in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, capturing numerous small prizes. One of her commanders, Captain Philip Broke, described Druid as a "point of honour ship", i.e., a ship too large to run but too small to fight. He and his biographer's view was that it was a disgrace to use a ship like her as a warship. She was broken up in 1813, after a thirty-year career.
Druid entered service in 1783 under the command of Captain John MacBride. He was succeeded the following year by Captain George Byron, who commanded her off Land's End. Captain Joseph Ellison replaced Byron in 1785, and remained in command for the next ten years. Druid served as a Royal escort between 1785 and 1788, returning to service in 1791 after a period paid off and under refit.
On 31 January 1788 a boat belonging to Druid captured the smuggler's lugger Revenge in Cawsand Bay. The lugger, under the command of a Henry Carter, belonged to Guernsey and was bringing in alcohol and other prohibited goods. Before Druid's boat could board the lugger, the smugglers fired on it. In the subsequent action, the smugglers killed one of Druid's crew and wounded seven. By the time the boarding party reached the lugger, the master and ten crewmen had fled. The British Government offered a pardon to any smuggler, other than the master, giving information leading to the arrest of two other smugglers, and also offered a reward of £200 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of two or more smugglers.
Druid sailed to Jamaica in April 1792 and, with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, returned to operate in home waters.
At some point in 1793 she was in company with Circe when they captured the French merchant vessels Vaudrieul and Diare. Druid herself also captured the Dauphin. In June she captured the French 12-gun privateer Esperance in the English Channel.
In late 1793 Druid served in a small squadron under the command of Sir James Saumarez in the frigate Crescent, together with the brig Liberty and the hired armed cutter Lion. They convoyed some transports with troops for Jersey and Guernsey, and there picked up pilots for Admiral MacBride. On 28 November Saumarez detached Lion to take the pilots to MacBride. On 5 December, Saumarez took his two frigates and the brig to the Isles of Bréhat. As they were maneuvering to attack some French vessels resting there, which escaped, Druid hit a rock, damaging herself. Saumerez sent her and Liberty into Plymouth for repairs.
In early 1794, Druid was in company with Flora, Sheerness, Echo, and Shark when Flora captured the French sloop Viper. Viper was a new sloop of 18 guns and was captured outside of Havre de Grace.
Also in 1794, Druid was part of a frigate squadron that escaped from the 50-gun French Scévola and Brutus.
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