Hercule

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 20th of July 2026 02:25

Portsmouth, 1 August 1801: Captain Luke is appointed to the L’Hercule, now lying at Plymouth. This vessel, it will be recollected, was captured by the Mars, after a severe action, in which the gallant commander of the latter, Captain Hood, lost his life. [Portsmouth Telegraph, 3 August 1801]

Posted by Tim Oakley on Monday 11th of September 2017 06:48

1 Aug 1801 Hercule74 was commissioned at Plymouth by Captain Luke, and she got her lower masts in this day.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 10th of September 2017 18:28

27 Dec 1802 Hercule74 Captain Solomon Ferris remains at Spithead,. A court martial was held on board the Neptune, on T. Lyons, Master at Arms, of the Hercule74, for Drunkenness, and the charge being proved he was sentenced to be dismissed the Service.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 10th of September 2017 18:18

8 Apr 1802 a Court Martial was held on board his Majesty's ship Neptune, in Torbay, on Lieut. W. Hill, of HM ship Hercule74 for insulting and shaking his fist in Lieut. Collet's face also, on Capt. Mortimer and Lieut. Dymock, of the Marine Forces, belonging to the said ship, for scurrilous and scandalous behaviour to the Rev. Charles Burnes. The charges being proved against Lieut. Hill, he was sentenced to be dismissed HM service and the charges being only in part proved against Capt. Mortimer and Lieut. Dymock, the former was severely reprimanded and the latter dismissed the ship. The Rev. C. Burnes was afterwards tried on a charge of drunkenness exhibited against him by Lieut. Hill, which case he could not substantiate, he was therefore acquitted.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 10th of September 2017 17:27

Circa Aug 1801 W. Thompson, Esq., Purser of the Boadicea to the Hercule.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 10th of September 2017 05:05

Officers in 1803
Lieutenant J B.Hills
Lieutenant S. Perrot
Lieutenant Nesbit Willoughby
Lieutenant Edward Nicolls [RM]
Lieutenant William Woolley

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 10th of September 2017 04:58

In mid-1803, the squadron under Captain Henry William Bayntun, consisting of Cumberland, Hercule, Bellerophon, Elephant, and Vanguard captured Poisson Volant and Superieure The Royal Navy took both into service.
In May 1803, HMS Hercule's captain Solomon Ferris died suddenly on board the ship.
On 28 June 1803, during the Blockade of Saint-Domingue, HMS Hercule encountered the French frigate Poursuivante and the corvette Mignonne. Hercule attempted to capture the Poursuivante, but the frigate outmaneuvered her and she received raking fire. The Hercule was under the command of first lieutenant John B Hills at the time, who was assigned acting captain because Captain Ferris had died the previous month. HMS Goliath then captured Mignonne.