Gladiator

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 4th of July 2026 03:22

Portsmouth, 27 July 1816: The Gladiator, Alcide, and Robust, are to be taken to pieces. The Cuba, Squirrel, and Speedy, are to be sold. [Hampshire Chronicle, 29 July 1816]

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 30th of June 2026 03:15

Portsmouth, 30 March 1816: The following thirty ships, at this port, are ordered to be sold, or taken to pieces. Those employed as receiving ships, powder ships, and military depots, are to be retained so long as they may be required for those services: Blake, Fortunee, Gladiator, Malacca, Emerald, Castor, Prince, Excellent, Elephant, Mars, Magnificent, Royal Oak, Swiftsure, Victorious, York, Hyperion, Atlas, Fortitude, San Antonio, Bull Dog, Alcide, Robust, Cuba, Squirrel, Pluto, Speedy, Prince George, Arve Princen, Hygeia.
The Tuscan and Tickler, at Plymouth, are to be sold; the Majestic and Medusa have been broken up at Pater Yard. [Hampshire Telegraph, 1 April 1816]

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 2nd of June 2026 01:29

Naval Court Martial for the trial of the mutineers, late of his Majesty’s ship Temeraire: held on board his Majesty’s ship the Gladiator, in Portsmouth Harbour. Wednesday, January 6, 1802.
Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, President.
The following seamen were then brought in and put on their trial – John Mayfield, late captain of the forecastle; James Ward, belonging to ditto; James Chesterman, ditto; John Fitzgerald, captain of the foretop; Thomas Cross, belonging to ditto; James Lockier, belonging to the maintop; John Cummins, ditto; Christopher White, ditto; William Hillier, belonging to the foretop; James Collins, the ship’s butcher; John Daly; Joseph Rowland, a carpenter; Thomas Jones; and William Cooke….

….the Court are of opinion that the charges are proved against all, except Christopher White, and doth adjudge them to suffer death, by being hanged by the neck on board such ship of his Majesty, at Spithead, or in Portsmouth harbour, and at such time as the Lords Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of England shall direct, and the said John Mayfield, &c, (all except White) are hereby ordered to suffer death. And the Court is further of opinion, that the charges against Christopher White are in part proved, and doth order and adjudge him to receive 200 lashes on his bare back, on board such ships at Spithead, or in Portsmouth harbour, and at such time as the Lords Commissioners shall appoint. [Kentish Post, 15 January 1802]

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 1st of June 2026 18:50

The following are the names of the seamen put upon their trial on Wednesday last before the Court Martial held on board the Gladiator in Portsmouth harbour: John Mayfield, James Ward, James Chesterman, John Fitzgerald, Joseph Rowland, Thomas Jones, Thomas Cross, William Crook, Christopher White, John Collins, James Locker, John Cummins, William Hillier, and John Dayley.
The charges are: First - Making, or endeavouring to make mutinous assemblies. Second – Uttering seditious expressions, and for concealing traiterous and seditious words spoken, and tending to the hindrance of of his Majesty’s service, and not revealing the same to their commanding officer. Third – Being present at such mutiny and sedition, and not using their utmost endeavours to suppress the same between the 1st and the 11th day of December, 1801. [Kentish Post, 12 January 1802]

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 1st of June 2026 18:36

The circumstances attending the Gladiator, the ship on board of which the trial of the mutineers is to take place, are not very generally known. She is to all appearance, a very fine frigate, of 44 guns; but in point of fact, never has been at sea. She was built by contract, and having been on the stocks for many years, her timbers, on examination, were found to be so much damaged, that she could not, it was apprehended, bear even the smallest strain. She was, in consequence, finished in a slight but sufficient manner, and has ever since lain in Portsmouth harbour, where she has been used only for the purpose of holding Courts Martial, but certainly never, on any occasion, of so much importance as the present.
The Gladiator has lain moored, for several years, about midway at the mouth of the harbour, where the passage boats ply between Gosport and Portsmouth Point. From its contiguity to the shore on each side, much convenience arises to all attendants on the Courts Martial, generally held at this port, in the ship above-mentioned. [Kentish Post, 8 and 12 January 1802]