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| Name | Kingfisher (1845) | Explanation | |
| Type | Brig | ||
| Launched | 8 April 1845 | ||
| Hull | Wooden | ||
| Propulsion | Sail | ||
| Builders measure | 446 tons | ||
| Displacement | |||
| Guns | 12 | ||
| Fate | 1890 | ||
| Class | |||
| Ships book | |||
| Note | 1875 h.s. | ||
| Snippets concerning this vessels career | |||
| Date | Event | ||
| 28 August 1845 | Commanded by Commander Charles Foreman Brown, west coast of Africa | ||
| (April 1846) | Commanded by Acting Commander Richard Ashmore Powell, west coast of Africa | ||
| 24 April 1846 | Commanded by Commander Frederick Wilmot Horton, west coast of Africa | ||
| 11 October 1848 - 8 March 1851 | Commanded by Commander Henry Harvey, west coast of Africa | ||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | |||
| Date | Extract | ||
| Ma 25 September 1843 | PORTSMOUTH, Sept. 23. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have ordered six brigs of a new class to be built. They are to carry 12 guns each, and are to be employed in the suppression of the slave trade instead of the old 10-gun brigs. Their names are to be, — the Flying Fish, Kingfisher, Mutine, Espiegle, Daring, and Osprey. The Kingfisher and Flying Fish are to be built at Pembroke, according to the plan of the Surveyor of the Navy; the Mutine and Espiegle are to be built at Chatham by Mr. Fincham, the Master-builder of the Dockyard there; and the Daring and Osprey are to be built at this dockyard, under the superintendence of Mr. White, of Cowes, the constructor of the Waterwitch. They are all to be of the same tonnage, and to carry the same masts and spars, armament, and stores. They are to be ready for launching by next May; and, as soon as they are completed for sea, they are to have a trial cruise previous to going on a foreign station. Their armament is to consist of 12 32-pounders, medium guns, which they will have instead of the carronades which brigs usually carry. | ||
| We 6 December 1848 | The Coast Of Africa The Siren, 16, Commander Chaloner, arrived this afternoon from the above station. She left St. Paul de Loando on the 1st of October, St. Helena the 19th, Ascension the 25th, and Sierra Leone Nov. 7. The squadron was distributed thus at the latest dates:- The Penelope and Philomel at St. Paul de Loando; the Amphitrite in the Bights; the Tortoise at Ascension; the Alert left Sierra Leone on the 5th of November for the Gambia; the Bittern off Loango and Mayumba; the Bonetta in search of the Commodore; the Britomart cruising between Cape Mayumba and the river Settee; the Contest off Benguela; the Cygnet in the Bights; the Dart cruising off Ambrize; the Dolphin in the Bights; the Favourite gone to Loango with provisions for the Bittern; the Pantaloon, from England, in search of the Commodore; the Ranger, recovered, and gone under sail in search of the Commodore, to report herself all safe; the Rapid left Congo on the 16th of October, to go northward; the Star in the Bights; the Wanderer off Cape Lopez; the Blazer en route to St. Paul de Loando; the Cyclops left Sierra Leone Nov. 6 for Ascension; the Firefly in the Bights; the Grappler in Elephant bay; the Pluto up the river Congo; the Snap tender en route to Ascension; the Sealark and Adelaide sailed from Sierra Leone on the 7th of November, the latter en route to Port Adelaide; the Waterwitch cruising off the Gallinas. Commander Rutherford has invalided from the Commodore's vessel and gone to St. Helena to recruit, and First Lieutenant Charles B. Bayley was made Acting Commander of her. The slave trade was very brisk. The Siren, since she has been on the coast (for the last 12 months cruising off the river Settee), has captured four prizes herself and shares for two others. The Penelope, Siren, and Bittern were lying at anchor in Mayumba-bay on the 5th of August, when a vessel was sighted becalmed; the Penelope got up her steam, went out, and presently made capture of the celebrated slaver "Polka," a fine brigantine fitted for the traffic, and having 24 slaves on board at the time. The Britomart has taken two — one empty, and one having 425 slaves on board. The Dart has taken one empty prize since the last mail. The Philomel, which lay outside of St. Paul de Loando on the 1st of October, reported the Grappler having taken another prize a day or two before, which she had destroyed in Elephant-bay. The Kingfisher had not arrived on the coast. The Siren has latterly been very healthy. She lost a man named Richard Sapper, a supernumerary from the Philomel, yesterday, in a heavy gale; he fell overboard, and although every means which could safely be adopted for his rescue were put in practice, he was lost. Another man, a sailmaker, from the Tortoise, died on the passage. The Island of Ascension was exceedingly healthy, and it was computed that there was a three years' ample supply of good water; all the turtle ponds were full, and vegetation and food for the flocks plentiful. | ||
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