British Fifth Rate frigate 'Cambrian' (1797)

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Cambrian

3475
Nominal Guns40BWAS-1793
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered30.4.1795BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down9.1795BWAS-1793
Launched13.2.1797BWAS-1793
First Commissioned6.4.1797ADM 51
How acquiredBuilt by ContractBWAS-1793
ShipyardBursledon - Hampshire BWAS-1793
Designed by
Sir John HenslowBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1761-1801
BWAS-1793
Constructor
George ParsonsBritish
Ship Builder
Service 1795-1801
BWAS-1793
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1793
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1793
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1793
Wrecked31.1.1828BWAS-1793

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck154' 0"Imperial Feet46.9392 
Length of Keel128' 3 ½"Imperial Feet39.0271 
Breadth41' 3"Imperial Feet12.573 
Depth in Hold14' 0"Imperial Feet4.2672 
Draught Forward10' 9"Imperial Feet3.2766 
Draught Aft15' 10"Imperial Feet4.572 
Burthen1.161 14⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


4.1797Broadside Weight = 518 Imperial Pound ( 234.913 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck28 British 24-Pounder
Quarterdeck6 British 32-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck8 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 32-Pound Carronade
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

1799Broadside Weight = 587 Imperial Pound ( 266.2045 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck28 British 24-Pounder
Quarterdeck12 British 32-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck2 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 32-Pound Carronade
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

1805Broadside Weight = 503 Imperial Pound ( 228.1105 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck28 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck12 British 32-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck2 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 32-Pound Carronade
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
4.1797320 BWAS-1793

8 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
6.4.1797 - 5.1797Captain
Sir Thomas WilliamsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1830
BWAS-17935.1797 - 1801Captain
The Hon. Arthur Kaye LeggeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1820
BWAS-17935.1802 - 10.1804Captain
William BentleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1802-1804
BWAS-179310.1804 - 1807Captain
John Poo BeresfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1838
BWAS-17931807 - 1810Captain
Richard Budd VincentBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1816
BWAS-17931810 - 13.12.1810Captain
Francis William FaneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1810
BWAS-17931.1.1811 - 10.12.1811Captain
Charles BullenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1852
NBD184914.8.1820 - 31.1.1828Captain
Gawen William HamiltonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1807-1828
BWAS-1793

2 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
c.25.4.1802 - c.30.5.1802Admiral of the White
Mark MilbankeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1737-1802
DischargedBWAS-17937.1802 - 3.1803Vice-Admiral of the White
Andrew MitchellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1806
BWAS-1793

11 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
9.4.1791 - 12.3.1793Fifth Lieutenant
John FrewBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/116ADM 6/2423.4.1797 - 11.4.1798Third Lieutenant
Thomas Bladen CapelBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792-1847
NAO24.3.1798 - 6.5.1802Lieutenant
Philip CarteretBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792-1817
ref:61622.7.1803 - 30.8.1803Acting Lieutenant
William BowlesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1869
NBD184930.8.1803 - 1804Lieutenant
William BowlesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1869
NBD184923.4.1807 - 27.5.1808First Lieutenant
William BlackBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
NBD18493.1809 - 2.1.1810Acting Lieutenant
Benjamin BayntonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1841
NBD18492.1.1810 - 25.1.1812Lieutenant
Benjamin BayntonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1841
NBD184912.6.1825 - 7.1825Lieutenant
Henry BullBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1813-1829
NBD18497.12.1825 - 24.10.1827Lieutenant
Stephen LushingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1816-1862
W02510.1827 - 31.1.1828Lieutenant
Charles Bell BellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1812-1844
NBD1849

1 Warrant Officer


DatesRankNameSource
15.8.1821 - 30.6.1826Master
Richmond EastoBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1814-1849
ref:1871

6 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
4.1797 - 2.1799Midshipman
The Hon. Duncombe Pleydall BouverieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
NBD18492.1799 - 6.9.1799Midshipman
Frederick BedfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1802
BWAS-17931805Midshipman
Henry Fage BelsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1800-1845
NBD18491808 - 8.1809Midshipman
Jospeh Bage BoultbeeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1855
NBD18491812 - 16.2.1815Midshipman
John AdamsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1866
NBD18497.1827 - 31.1.1828Midshipman
James Crawford CaffinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1588-1865
NBD1849

1 Crewman


DatesRatingNameSource
6.1802 - 1.18041st Class Volunteer
Stephen BriggsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1844
NBD1849

Service History


DateEventSource
9.1795Began building at Bursledon - Hampshire BWAS-1793
13.2.1797Completed building at Bursledon - Hampshire at a cost of £17592.0.0dBWAS-1793
13.2.1797Began fitting for sea at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
16.6.1797Completed fitting for sea at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £11974.0.0dBWAS-1793
4.1.1798Took the Privateer
Le Vengeur (12) 1798-1798
French 12 Gun
Privateer Unknown
in the Channel
27.3.1798Took the Privateer
Le César (16) 1798-1798
French 16 Gun
Privateer Unknown
in the Channel after a cruise of 35 days from BrestBG
30.3.1798Took the Privateer
Le Pont de Lodi (16) 1797-1798
French 16 Gun
Privateer Unknown
in the ChannelBG
19.10.1798Took the Privateer
La Revanche (Unknown) 1798-1798
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown
in the Channel
8.12.1798Took the Brig
La Cantabré (14) 1798-1798
French 14 Gun
Privateer Brig
in the Channel
9.1.1799

Arrived at Plymouth from a cruise

TNC
5.5.1800Took the Brig-Corvette
Le Dragon (14) 1800-1800
French 14 Gun
Privateer Brig-Corvette
in the ChannelBG
6.4.1801Took the Privateer
L'Audacieux (14) 1799-1801
French 14 Gun
Privateer Unknown

2.1805In BermudaTRN5
13.6.1805Took the Privateer
Maria (14) 1805-1805
Spanish 14 Gun
Privateer Unknown

3.7.1805Took the Schooner
La Matilda (10) 1805-1805
French 10 Gun
Privateer Schooner
on the Floridan coast
25.4.1806Off New York with
Leander (52) 1799-1817
British 52 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
1813 Renamed "Hygeia"
and
Driver (18) 1797-1834
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
when Leander fired the Leander fired twice at an American coaster, the Richard. The second shot struck the taffrail and drove a splinter upon the master's brother, John Pierce, killing him on the spot.TRN5
4.1807Began refitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
6.1807Completed refitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £13483.0.0dBWAS-1793
10.1810Completed fitting for sea at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £7310.0.0dBWAS-1793
13.12.1810Landing at Palamos
10.12.1811Paid offADM 35
5.1813Began middling repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
9.1814Laid upBWAS-1793
9.1814Completed middling repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £33728.0.0dBWAS-1793
7.1820Began fitting for sea at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
20.10.1827Battle of Navarino
31.1.1828

Wrecked off Grabusa after a collision while in combat with pirate schooners

BWAS-1793
31.1.1828Action at Grabusa

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 30th of May 2026 04:02

Captain Towry is appointed to his Majesty’s ship Cambrian. London Courier, 9 October 1801]

Posted by Adam Quigley on Thursday 22nd of January 2015 11:43

May 1811. The Cambrian was the first british ship to fire on the french at the siege of Tarragona, Firing broadsides for 3 hours the ship came in so close to the beach that the hull scraped the bottom.
NA ADM 7/44 f320-325 letter Charles Bullen to Capitan Edward Codrington 8 may 1811.

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