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Copyright Vicki Hassona 2013
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Albemarle
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HMS
Albemarle, by Derek Gardner
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28-gun 6th-rate frigate
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Originally a French merchant ship called the Ménagére,
she was bought by the French navy in May 1779 and promptly captured by
the British in September that same year.
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Sold in 1784.
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Nelson was her Captain from Oct 1781 - July 1783.
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On August 24th 1781, Nelson excitedly wrote to his brother,
Maurice, of his first impressions of his new ship:
"According to my
promise I sit down to write you an account of the Albemarle.
Yesterday I went down to Woolwich with Maurice [Suckling, Nelson's
uncle], and hoisted my Pendant; and I am perfectly satisfied with
her, as a twenty-eight gun Frigate. She is in dock, alongside
the Enterprize, and in some respects, I think, excels her. She
has a bold entrance, and clean run."
Nicolas, Vol. I
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On October 18th 1781, he wrote again to his brother when
Albemarle was ready to sail:
"I have an
exceeding good Ship's company. Not a man or Officer in her I
would wish to change. She appears to sail also very well."
Nicolas, Vol. I
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William Locker didn't think much of Albemarle,
however, and apparently told Nelson so: in a letter to Locker on
22nd December 1781, Nelson reported:
"The Albemarle, although you
abused her at Woolwich, has some good sailing in her."
Nicolas, Vol. I
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Career:
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23rd Sept 1779: Part of a French
convoy,
Ménagére was captured by a British squadron
commanded by William Hotham near San Domingo. She was
taken into the Royal Navy, renamed Albemarle, and sent
to the Leeward Islands under Capt. John Thomas.
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17th April 1780: Was present at
the Battle of Martinique but didn't see action. (Capt.
Thomas Taylor)
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Oct 1781:
Under Nelson, sailed as convoy escort to Denmark.
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Jan 1782: A merchant ship collided with her during a
storm at Yarmouth, causing considerable damage. Albemarle
had to be refitted at Portsmouth, which took two months to
complete.
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May 1782: Escorted a convoy to Quebec, then cruised
near North America and took several prizes (unusually for
Nelson!). While sailing with a convoy from Quebec to Boston, he
was chased by three French ships-of-the-line and a frigate.
They were all much better sailers than the Albemarle, so
Nelson was forced to take her through some shoals to escape.
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Oct 1782: Transferred to Admiral Hood's squadron in
the West Indies.
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March 1783: Involved in a small, and unsuccessful,
attack on Turk's Island, which had been taken by the French.
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Sold by the Navy in
1784,
she went on to transport convicts to Australia and was
eventually captured by the French in 1793.
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vicki@admiralnelson.info
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