Impregnable

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 25th of July 2026 06:35

Portsmouth, 2 November 1799: Pursuant to an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a Court Martial was on Wednesday held on board His Majesty’s ship Gladiator, on Captain Faulknor, his officers and ship’s company for the loss of His Majesty’s ship Impregnable, of 98 guns.
Members of the Court: Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, Bart, President; Captains McDouall, Purvis, Pickmore, Sir H Neale, Elphinstone, Wooley, Wells, Alms, Boyles, Whitby, Durham, Barton. Mr Greetham, Esq, Judge Advocate.
The officers and many of the seamen having ben strictly examined, and the circumstances attending the loss of the ship fully investigated, the Court agreed - That the loss of His Majesty’s ship Impregnable was caused by her running upon Chichester shoals, whilst in charge of Michael Jenkin, the Master of her, and afterwards beating a considerable way on the flats, and it being impossible to get her again off; and that there appeared therein to have been negligence in the conduct of the Master, by having run beyond the proper distance before he hauled in for St Helen’s, and not having anchored the ship, at the time there appeared to be a material difference in the men at the leads; but that no blame waas imputable to Captain Faulknor, his other officers and ship’s company, for their conduct upon that occasion; but that the conduct of the ship’s company after she ran on shore, was highly praise-worthy, creditable to themselves, and to the discipline of the ship in which they served; and the Court did adjudge the said Michael Jenkin, in consideration of his having been deceived in the sounding, and other circumstances, only to be dismissed from His Majesty’s service; and the said Captain Faulknor, his other officers and ship’s company, to be acquitted. [Hampshire Telegraph, 4 November 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 20th of July 2026 12:44

Portsmouth, 6 November 1799 - His Majesty’s Ship Impregnable – A Caution – Whereas the wreck of the said ship, her stores, and furniture, now lying on Chichester Shoals, have lately been disposed of by the Hon Commissioners of His Majesty’s Navy to Andrew Lindegren, Esq, of Portsmouth, on condition that all the copper and iron articles and all lother stores on which the King’s Marks shall appear, shall be brought to His Majesty’s Dock-Yard,
Notice is hereby given, that all persons who shall be detected in embezzling or detaining any of the said stores, &c, will be prosecuted: and all persons into whose possession any of such stores, &c, to be recovered from the said wreck, after the date hereof, shall happen to fall, are desired forthwith to convey them to the Dock-Yard, to be surveyed by the proper officers there, where the usual salvage will be paid for the same, according to such survey. [Portsmouth Telegraph, 2 December 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 20th of July 2026 12:41

For sale by auction, at Hayling Island, on Wednesday, the 4th of December, 1799, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon -
A quantity of oak timber, plank, &c, saved from His Majesty’s Ship Impregnable, lately wrecked on Chichester Shoals, and now lying on the beach at Hayling Island, which will be put up in small lots for the benefit of the purchasers. [Portsmouth Telegraph, 2 December 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 12:37

Portsmouth, 26 October 1799: We are very sorry to have to state that the Impregnable, which we had hopes, as mentioned in our last, of being saved, is now in a state of entire wreck. After every effort has been exerted to get her off, she is now consigned to the fate of being broke up. Several shipwrights from the Dock-yard went on Friday last to take off her upper planks. We have, however, the satisfaction of observing, that by the active and lively exertions of the Captain and officers, no lives or personal property of consequence have been lost.
A Court of Enquiry is to be instituted in a few days respecting the unfortunate loss of the said ship; and we have no doubt but it will terminate highly honourable to the Captain, Master, and the rest of the officers who were at the time she struck on duty. [Hampshire Telegraph, 28 October 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 02:44

Portsmouth, 19 October 1799: We are very sorry to state, that owing to the badness of the weather the Impregnable, standing rather too far to the eastward, ran ashore near the entrance of Langstone-Harbour. At the time she struck, it blew a violent gale of wind. All her masts are cut away. Vessels from the Dock-yard, Victualling-office, and Gun-wharf, launches, and other boats from the different men of war at Spithead, went immediately to help in saving the stores. We feel a particular pleasure in stating, that no lives are lost; and it being now quite calm, we are in great hopes she will be got off. [Hampshire Telegraph, 21 October 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 15th of June 2026 15:58

His Majesty’s Ship Impregnable, A Warning: Whereas the wreck of the said ship, her stores, and furniture, now lying on Chichester Shoals, have lately been disposed of by the Hon Commissioners of His Majesty’s Navy to Andrew Lindegren, Esq, of Portsmouth, on condition that all the copper and iron articles, and all other stores on which the King’s marks shall appear, shall be brought to His Majesty’s Dock-Yard.
Notice is hereby given that all persons who shall be detected embezzling or detaining any of the said stores, &c, will be prosecuted; and all persons into whose possession any such stores, &c recovered from the same wreck, after the date hereof, shall happen to fall, are desired forthwith to convey them to the Dock-Yard, to be surveyed by the proper officers there, where the usual salvage will be paid for the same, according to such survey. Portsmouth, Nov 6, 1799. [Hampshire Telegraph, 11 November 1799]