British Fifth Rate frigate 'Medusa' (1801)

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Medusa

5333
Nominal Guns32BWAS-1793
NationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered28.1.1800BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down4.1800BWAS-1793
Launched14.4.1801BWAS-1793
How acquiredBuilt by ContractBWAS-1793
ShipyardNorthfleet Dockyard - Northfleet BWAS-1793
Ship ClassAmphion Class (1796)BWAS-1793
Designed by
William RuleBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1778-1813
BWAS-1793
Constructor
Thomas PitcherBritish
Ship Builder
Service 1801
BWAS-1793
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1793
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1793
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1793
Broken Up11.1816BWAS-1793

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck144' 0"Imperial Feet43.8912 
Length of Keel121' 6"Imperial Feet36.8808 
Breadth37' 8 ½"Imperial Feet11.2903 
Depth in Hold12' 5 ½"Imperial Feet3.6703 
Draught Forward10' 5"Imperial Feet3.048 
Draught Aft13' 10"Imperial Feet3.9624 
Burthen918 89⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


14.4.1801Broadside Weight = 324 Imperial Pound ( 146.934 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 24-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
27.6.1796254Design Complement

7 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
4.1801 - 1.1804Captain
John GoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1825
BWAS-17931.1804Captain
Charles RowleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1825
BWAS-17931.1804 - 12.1804Captain
John GoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1825
BWAS-179312.1804 - 2.1806Captain
Sir Adam DrummondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-9990
BWAS-179310.1808 - 6.1809Captain
William BowlesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1869
NBD18496.1810 - 11.1810Captain
William BowlesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1869
NBD18496.1813 - 10.1813Captain
George BellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1813
BWAS-1793

2 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
16.8.1801 - 29.8.1801Vice-Admiral of the Blue
Lord Horatio Nelson (1st Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1771-1804
NAO30.8.1801 - 22.10.1801Vice-Admiral of the Blue
Lord Horatio Nelson (1st Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1771-1804
NAO

2 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
2.9.1801 - 14.4.1802Lieutenant
The Hon. William CathcartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1804
NRS0201813 - 28.5.1813Acting Lieutenant
Thomas AtkinsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1814
NBD1849

3 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
10.5.1801 - 31.8.1801Master's Mate
The Hon. William CathcartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1804
NRS0201.1802 - 1806Midshipman
William WaldegraveBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1846
NBD18496.1806 - 7.1812Midshipman
Thomas AtkinsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1814
NBD1849

Service History


DateEventSource
15.4.1801Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
26.6.1801Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
3.1802Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1793
9.12.1803Took the Privateer
L'Espérance (4) 1803-1803
French 4 Gun
Privateer Unknown
off Cabrita Point
9.12.1803Took the Privateer
Le Sorcier (4) 1803-1803
French 4 Gun
Privateer Unknown
off Cabrita Point
5.10.1804Battle of Cape St Maria
23.10.1804Took the Frigate
Santa Matilda (38) 1778-1804
Spanish 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
off Cadiz
18.4.1805Sailed for the East IndiesBWAS-1793
5.1806Sailed with a convoy for the Cape of Good HopeBWAS-1793
10.1806Operations in the River Plate until 1807/09BWAS-1793
7.11.1807Returned homeBWAS-1793
4.4.1808Took the Lugger
L'Actif (14) 1808-1808
French 14 Gun
Privateer Lugger
off DunoseBG
6.1.1810Took the Unrated
L'Aventure (14) 1810-1810
French 14 Gun
Unrated Unknown
in the Channel of the Bay of Biscay
14.1.1810Took the Unrated
L'Hirondelle (14) 1810-1810
French 14 Gun
Unrated Unknown
in the Channel of the Bay of Biscay
4.6.1812Her boats burnt the
La Dorade (14) 1812-1812
French 14 Gun
Unrated Storeship
at ArcassonBWAS-1793
10.1813Began fitting for ordinary at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
11.1813Completed fitting for ordinary at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
12.1813Refitted as a Unrated Hospital Ship
12.1813fitting as an Hospital Ship at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
11.1816Broken up at Pater, PembrokeBWAS-1793

 
Previous comments on this page

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

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]

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