Bellerophon ➡ 1824 Captivity

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 16th of July 2026 05:45

Portsmouth, 16 May 1801: A number of shipwrights having been taken off from the Dreadnought of 98 guns, now building by order of the Navy Board, to forward the Bellerophon and Goliath, of 74 guns each; the former ship will, therefore, not be launched until the 14th of next month: on the same day, the Malta of 84 guns, Bellerophon and Goliath, of 74 guns each, will be undocked. [Hampshire Telegraph, 18 May 1801]

Posted by Bron Gorman on Thursday 6th of March 2025 01:17

I am researching a Great x 4 grand father who, according to information I have, part of the crew of the Bellepheron sometime during the Napoleonic Wars and at the Battle of Trafalgar.
He was born 1788 and press ganged so probably quite young at the time.
Thank you
Regards

Posted by David Young on Tuesday 23rd of August 2022 13:09

Hello,

There is a gravestone in Peterborough Cemetery to one Robert Base. His headstone states that he served on the Bellerophon at Trafalgar. He would have been 18 years old at the time of the battle; he died in 1878 aged 91.

Posted by Brian Stephens on Thursday 3rd of April 2014 17:51

Providence Gazette,
October 7, 1815, p. 2
The following particulars respecting the embarkation of Bonaparte on board the Northumberland, have been received from a source entitled to every credit; we give them to the public as authentic. The Bellerophon and the Tonnant, sailed from the Bay of Plymouth on Friday; but we do not imagine that it was to prevent the application for a writ of habeaus corpus. The fact is, that the concourse of boats was so great, and the danger to which they were exposed that the government thought proper to order the Bellerophon to a greater distance. The process, of which so much has been said, was nothing more than an ordinary subpoena from the Court of Kings bench, procured by some person who had a cause pending in that court, and who amused himself by citing as witnesses, Napoleon, Jerome, and Admiral Villaumes. The Northumberland left Portsmouth on Friday, also, and on Sunday arrived off Torbay. General Bertrand was the first to come on board the Tonnant, where he dined with Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn. Sir George explained to him his instructions with regard to Bonaparte; one article of which was, that his baggage should be examined before it was taken on board the Northumberland. Bertram warmly protested against sending Bonaparte to St. Helena, when he desired and expected to have lived in peace in England, protected by English laws. Lord Keith and Sir George did not enter into a discussion on this point.

After dinner, they accompanied Bertrand on board the Bellerophon. Before their arrival, they had taken from Bonaparte his pistol and all his arms. Those who were not to accompany him were sent on board the frigate Eurotas. They showed a great unwillingness to be separated from him. Bonaparte took leave of them individually; Savery and L'Allemand were, however, left on board the Bellerophon.

When Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn came on board, Bonaparte was on deck ready to receive them. After the usual salutation Lord Keith addressed himself to Bonaparte, and requested him to say at what hour he proposed to go on board the Northumberland. Bonaparte protested with the greatest vehemency against this act of British Government. "He had not expected it, he could see no reasonable objection to his residing in England in tranquility, for the remainder of his days." Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn made no reply. An English officer who stood near him observed, that if he was not sent to St. Helena, he would be sent to the Emperor Alexander, "God keep me from the Russians," replied he, shrugging his shoulders and addressing Bertrand. "At what hour tomorrow morning, shall I come, General, and accompany you on board the Northumberland," asked Sir George Cockburn. Bonaparte appeared somewhat surprised at hearing himself addressed simply as General, but replied at 10 o’clock. Bertrand and his Lady, Savary, L'Allemand, Count Montholon and his Lady, were near Bonaparte; Sir George Cockburn asked them if they wished anything before they sailed? Bertrand replied, that he wanted 20 packs of cards, a backgammon board and a set of dominoes. Madame Bertrand required some articles of furniture. One of the French officers, nephew of Josephine, complained, that they had not kept their word with Bonaparte, who expected to reside in England with his suite. Bonaparte asked Lord Keith's opinion; who merely replied, that he must obey the orders he had received form his government. Bonaparte requested a second interview; Lord Keith refused, observing, that he could give him a little satisfaction, in as mush his orders were peremptory, and it was impossible to make nay change in the sentence which had been announced to him. An officer who stood near observed, "Had you remained one hour longer, you would have been taken and sent to Paris." Bonaparte turned his eyes upon the speaker, but made no reply.

Sir George the next morning very early went on board the Bellerophon, to inspect the baggage of Bonaparte. It consisted of two services of plate, some articles of gold, a superb silver toilet set, books, bed &c. The whole was carried on board the Northumberland at 10 o’clock. At half past 11, Lord Keith came in the Tonnant's cutter on board the Bellerophon, to receive Bonaparte and those who were to accompany him. Before its arrival and afterward, he conversed with Captain Maitland and the officers of the Bellerophon. He ten went on board the cutter, and again took off his hat to them. Lord keith received on board the cutter the following persons; Bonaparte, Bertrand, lady and three children; the Count and Countess Montholon and child, Count Lascassos, General Gourgaud, nine male and three female servants. Savary and L'Allemand were left on board the Bellerophon. Savary appeared mush to dread the idea of being given up to the French government, after repeating that the honour of England would not suffer him to be sent to France. At noon the cutter came alongside the Northumberland. Bertran was the first who went on board. Bonaparte followed him, as soon as he came on deck, he said to Sir George Cockburn, "I am under your orders," He bowed to Lord Lowther and Mr. Littleton; who were near the Admiral, and said something to them, to which they replied. He asked one of the officers in which corp he served. The officer replied, "In the Artillery" "I sparan from that service," Bonaparte briskly rejoined. After taking leave of the officers who accompanied him from the Bellerophon, he went into the cabin, where, besides his principal attendants, were Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn, Lord Lowther, and the Hon. Mr. Lyttleton. Lord Keith took leave of him, and went on board the Tonnant. Lord Lowther and Mr. Lyttlton remained, and had conversation of nearly two hours with him.

The Bellerophon, Tonnant, and Eurotas, returned to Plymouth Bay on Tuesday. The Northumberland cruised off that port the whole day, although the wind was favourable. It is supposed that they are waiting the arrival of the Weymouth, which was to bring them supplies the following day.








He asked one of the officers in which corp he served. The officer replied, "In the Artillery" "I sparan from that service," Bonaparte briskly rejoined. After taking leave of the officers who accompanied him from the Bellerophon, he went into the cabin, where, besides his principal attendants, were Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn, Lord Lowther, and the Hon. Mr. Lyttleton. Lord Keith took leave of him, and went on board the Tonnant. Lord Lowther and Mr. Lyttlton remained, and had conversation of nearly two hours with him.

Posted by Brian Stephens on Thursday 3rd of April 2014 17:42

From a London paper,
Private Correspondence
On board the Bellerophon
By some passengers who came in the Bellerophon, it appears that Bonaparte was quite at his ease on board that ship; took possession of the Captains cabin, sana ceremonie, invited the officers of the ship to his table, talked with great freedom on the state of things; said it was impossible for the Bourbons to govern France, and that Napoleon II. would be very soon recalled to the throne. That Fouche was an ass and totally unfit for the office assigned to him. He acknowledged that England alone had ruined all his grand plans, and that not for her he had been Emperor of the East as well as the West. He walked on the poop and quarter deck, conversed with the seamen and effected great gaiety and unconcern, is short, such is the talent of his "child and companion of jacobinism," that before they arrived in Torbay, he was considered by all on board as a devilish good fellow.

From: The Royal Gazette and Newfoundland
September 7, 1815 page 2

BONAPARTE

Copy of a letter from a young Somersetshire sailor, on board the Bellerophon
His Majesty's Ship Bellerophon, Torbay
July 24, 1815

I avail myself of an opportunity of informing you of an occurrence that will doubtless be felt with pleasure. Nothing less than that we have in our possession the common disturber of the repose of Europe, who finding himself foiled in all his attempts to regain that power he so recently lost, endeavored to escape to America; but the vigilance of his Majesty's cruisers has prevented it, and I have to boast of being in the ship that claims the honour of his capture, which was effected in the following manner.

The French coast was blockaded very closely; the part to which we were stationed was Basque Roads, and at this place it was that he endeavored to escape; but finding it impossible and being pressed on shore by the advance of hostile troops, together with the turning of the people to the side of Louis, he determined to give himself up to our Captain rather than run the risk of falling into the hands of the more unceremonious enemies on shore. The white flag was displayed at Rochelle on the 12th, and on the 14th a flag of truce came out from Rochefort, with part of Bonaparte's suite, who gave us to understand that he would surrender on the following morning, which he did about half-past seven, coming out in the Epervier man-of-war brig, out of which we brought him in our barge.







We are to lie here for orders; the rumor is, however, that we shall go up the river with him, it being considered an act of policy rather than let his travel through the country

Plymouth, Wednesday night.
The Bellerophon is this moment anchored in the Sound, with Napoleon on board, having been ordered to this port from Torbay by the Admiralty. What is to be done with him is kept profoundly secret. No one is allowed to go into or near the ship; not even Mrs. Maitland, wife of the Captain.

Posted by Brian Stephens on Thursday 3rd of April 2014 17:38

The Providence Gazette
From Lloyds, Torbay,July 24

Arrived this day his Majesty's ships Myrmidon and Bellerophon; on board the latter, is Napoleon Bonaparte, Gen. Bertram, his wife, and three children; the Count Montholon, his wife and one child; Savery, Les Casses and his son, General L'Allemand and several others, in all about 34. The Port Admiral at Plymouth and my Lord Keith are expected this afternoon from that port, when it will be known what is to become of Napoleon and his party: at present we know nothing of what is intended
to be done with them. No strangers are permitted to go along side the Bellerophon, but Napoleon has been seen plain enough by all the stern-gallery, and those that go round the ship have full view of him.

Another letter of the same date, from Torbay, after confirming all that is said in the preceding, states that the Duke of Rovigo, Count Las Casses, Count Montholon and family. two Lieut. Cols, three Captains, and two Lieutenants, are on board his Majesty's ship Myrmidon.