British Fifth Rate frigate 'Alcmene' (1794)

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Alcmene

2969
Nominal Guns32BWAS-1793
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered14.2.1793BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down4.1793BWAS-1793
Launched8.11.1794BWAS-1793
How acquiredBuilt by ContractBWAS-1793
ShipyardHarwich - Essex BWAS-1793
Ship ClassAlcmene - Improved Pallas Class (1793)BWAS-1793
Designed by
Sir John HenslowBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1761-1801
BWAS-1793
Constructor
Joseph GrahamBritish
Ship Builder
BWAS-1793
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1793
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1793
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1793
Wrecked29.4.1809BWAS-1793

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck135' 3"Imperial Feet41.1502 
Length of Keel112' 8"Imperial Feet34.1545 
Breadth36' 8 ½"Imperial Feet10.9855 
Depth in Hold12' 6"Imperial Feet3.7338 
Burthen805 85⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


8.11.1794Broadside 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
1793241Design Complement

9 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
1.1795 - 9.1798Captain
William BrownBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1788-1815
BWAS-17939.1798 - c.9.1799Captain
George Johnstone HopeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1815
BWAS-1793bef.9.1799 - bef.1.1801Captain
Henry DigbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1840
BWAS-17931.1801 - 3.4.1801Captain
Samuel SuttonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1805
BWAS-17933.4.1801 - 8.1801Captain
Charles Dudley PaterBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1814
BWAS-17938.1801 - 8.1802Captain
Robert Stuart LambertBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1791-1822
BWAS-17938.1802 - 11.1805Captain
John StilesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1807
BWAS-179311.1805 - 1.1808Captain
James BrisbaneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1787-1802
BWAS-17934.1808 - 29.4.1809Captain
William Henry Brown TremlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1788-1847
BWAS-1793

1 Commissioned Officer


DatesRankNameSource
3.7.1800 - 30.7.1800Acting Lieutenant
Thomas FifeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1813
NAO

1 Warrant Officer


DatesRankNameSource
20.8.1808 - 16.5.1809Master
Christopher AndersonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1814
ADM 29-1

1 Petty Officer


DatesRatingNameSource
13.11.1797 - 9.3.1799Master's Mate
The Hon. William CathcartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1804
NRS020

2 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
3.1795 - 17951st Class Volunteer
John BarkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1808
NBD18496.3.1795 - 1795Landman
William Collins BarkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1821
NBD1849

Service History


DateEventSource
8.11.1794Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1793
14.4.1795Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1793
11.1795Sailed with a convoy to the West IndiesBWAS-1793
1.1796Returned homeBWAS-1793
8.1796On the Lisbon StationBWAS-1793
6.3.1797Took the Privateer
La Rochelleuse (Unknown) 1797-1797
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

8.1.1798Took the Privateer
Le Bonaparte (2) 1797-1798
French 2 Gun
Privateer Unknown

8.1798In the MediterraneanBWAS-1793
22.8.1798Took the Lugger
La Légère (6) 1798-1798
French 6 Gun
Privateer Lugger

23.6.1799Took the Privateer
Le Courageux (28) 1799-1799
French 28 Gun
Privateer Unknown

8.1799On the Lisbon StationBWAS-1793
1.8.1799Took the Brig
Les Deux Amis (6) 1799-1799
French 6 Gun
Privateer Brig

15.10.1799Capture of Spanish Treasure Ships
11.1799At PlymouthBWAS-1793
1.1801On the Lisbon StationBWAS-1793
3.1801Sailed to the BalticBWAS-1793
2.4.1801Battle of Copenhagen
1804In the Channel IslandsBWAS-1793
1805In the Channel IslandsBWAS-1793
11.1805On the Irish StationBWAS-1793
4.1.1806Took the Privateer
Le Courrier (Unknown) 1806-1806
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

1808In the ChannelBWAS-1793
29.4.1809Wrecked in the mouth of the LoireBWAS-1793

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 31st of May 2026 10:56

Alcmene
Casualties in the attack off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801:
Killed – 5 seamen, 3 marines, 1 soldier of the Rifle Corps
Wounded – 12 seamen, 2 marines
Total killed and wounded – 19
Officers wounded – Mr Henry Baker, Acting Third Lieutenant; Mr Charles Meredith, Lieutenant of the Marines; Mr Charles Church, Boatswain; Mr G A Spearing, Master’s Mate; Mr Pratt, Pilot. [Morning Post, 16 April 1801]

Posted by Paul Strickland on Saturday 14th of December 2024 13:45

According to Marshall, Lt Eaton Stannard Travers served on the Alcmene from Dec 1806 until she was wrecked in Apr 1809.

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