HMS Rhadamanthus

HMS Rhadamanthus (1832)

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Name	Rhadamanthus (1832)	Explanation
Type	2nd class sloop
Launched	16 April 1832
Hull	Wooden
Propulsion	Paddle
Builders measure	813 tons
Displacement	1086 tons
Guns	5
Fate	1864
Class
Ships book
Note
Snippets concerning this vessels career
Date	Event
13 July 1839	Commanded by Commander Arthur Wakefield, Mediterranean
28 August 1841 - 1846	Commanded by Master commander Thomas Laen
29 June 1846	Commanded by Master commander Jonathan Aylen
7 March 1851	Commanded by Master commander John Belam, particular service
29 October 1857	Commanded by Master commander Frederick R. Sturdee, particular service
*Extracts from the Times* newspaper**
Date	Extract
Ma 14 September 1840	It appears that neither the Salamander nor Comet steam-vessels are to be paid off; they are equipping at Woolwich, with great despatch; they will be both at Spithead about the last week in September. The Medea will leave Woolwich on the 24th. The Vesuvius is fitting at Chatham for the Mediterranean. These four steam ships will increase Sir R. Stopford's force to 10 powerful steam-vessels of war, he having already the Gorgon, Cyclops, Phoenix, Rhadamanthus, Hydra, and Stromboli; and to which there are several steamers already fitted for guns, &c., employed in the conveyance of the mails, such as the Acheron, Volcano, Prometheus, Megaera, Alecto, &c.
Fr 1 December 1843	The Irish squadron consists of 1 line of battle ship, 2 frigates, 2 sloops, and 11 steamers, viz., the Caledonia, 120 (flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Bowles); Fox, 42; Iris, 46; Lynx, 3, and Snipe, 2 guns (sloops). Steamers, the Penelope, 22 ; Stromboli, 6; Flamer, 6; Tartarus, 2 ; Volcano, 2; Dee, 2; and Rhadamanthus steamer, 2 guns.
Ma 8 April 1844	THE LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY AT COVE. The Cork Reporter of yesterday evening announces the following;— "Her Majesty’s war steamer Black Eagle arrived at Cove early this morning from England, having on board the Right Hon. Henry Thomas Lowry Corry, Lord of the Admiralty; the Hon. Sydney Herbert, Secretary to the Admiralty, and Captain Brandereth, Royal Engineers. Our correspondent informs us that these gentlemen, accompanied by Rear Admiral Bowles, are now at Haulbowline Island inspecting the stores, water-tanks, &., and that the committee of the late public meeting held at Cove, on the subject of the naval establishment there, had forwarded to them a copy of the memorial addressed to Sir R. Peel on the subject. Her Majesty's steamer Black Eagle arrived at Kingstown on Friday evening, after an extraordinary short passage of between 11 and 12 hours from Cork, having on board the Right Hon. Henry J.L. Corry. one or the Commissioners of the Admiralty, and the Hon. Sidney Herbert. M.P., Secretary of the Admiralty, with Captain Brandreth, R.E. Their visit is official in some way which has not transpired. Her Majesty's steamer Rhadamanthus arrived from Cork yesterday. Her Majesty's ship Volcano sailed to the north this morning.
We 4 November 1846	Portsmouth, Tuesday. The Comet steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander Johnstone [sic], arrived at Cork from this port on Thursday last, and found there the Rhadamanthus steam-vessel, Master-Commander Aylen; the Acheron steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander Dunlop [sic]; the Dee steam-vessel, Master-Commander Driver; the Blazer steam-vessel, Captain Washington; and the Myrmidon steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander Jenkin; which vessels were about being sent to various ports along the Irish coast with meal to relieve the prevailing distress, which is increasing along the coast to the westward.
Th 8 February 1849	WOOLWICH, Feb. 7. The Rhadamanthus steam vessel, Master-Commander J. Ayling, towed the Juno, 26 guns, Captain P. Blake, up to Chatham yesterday, to be paid off on her return from the Pacific. The Rhadamanthus was ordered to Woolwich to be paid off and re-commissioned at this port, and she arrived to-day.
Fr 2 June 1854	The Rhadamanthus paddlewheel steam storevessel, Master Commander John Belam, took on board in the basin at Woolwich, for conveyance to Portsmouth, new boilers for the Centaur, and the remainder of the machinery for the Colossus, 80, screw steamship, fitting at that port. The boilers of the Royal Albert were put on board the Beaver steam vessel, and she was towed to Sheerness by the Rhadamanthus. The Rhadamanthus will leave tomorrow, and is under orders to return to Woolwich within a week to take round the machinery of the Harrier screw steam sloop, and the Curaçoa, 30, steam frigate, built at Pembroke. The boilers brought down by the Rhadamanthus were afterwards put on board the Royal Albert at Sheerness.
We 21 March 1855	An advanced division or flying squadron of the Baltic fleet left Spithead yesterday afternoon for the Downs, thence making for Kiel as soon as the ice will permit. This squadron, consisted of the Impérieuse, 51, Captain Watson (senior officer); the Euryalus, 51, Captain G. Ramsay; the Arrogant, 47, Captain Yelverton; the Esk, 21, Captain Birch; the Tartar, 21, Captain Dunlop; the Archer, 15, Captain Heathcote; and the Conflict, 8, Commander Brown. They each got up steam before noon, and made every preparation for weighing; but, as Her Majesty had signified her intention of seeing them depart, their starting was delayed until Her Majesty’s arrival. At about 3 o’clock the Fairy, with the Queen, Prince Albert, the Prince of Leiningen, and the Court on board, with the Royal Standard and Admiralty flag flying, was seen advancing towards the fleet from Osborne, when a general Royal salute was fired, and as the Fairy glided into the midst of the "line" the crews of each ship manned the rigging, and some daring spirits climbed to the trucks of the masts to cheer and welcome the august visitors. The Royal vessel lay to off the Neptune, and signalled for Captain Watson, commanding the flying squadron, to repair on board, which he did and was presented (we believe, by Rear-Admiral Seymour) to the Queen. In a few minutes afterwards the Fairy steamed very slowly through the line towards the east, each ship's crew manning the rigging and cheering even at the mainmasthead trucks. At about half-past 3 the signal was made for those about to leave to weigh and proceed, and at about five minutes to 4 o’clock all were off, the Fairy leading. On steaming ahead to lead them to sea, the Impérieuse and Euryalus manned their rigging, and their crews gave three rounds of cheers as the Queen passed them. The Fairy made the Knab light at about 10 minutes past 4, followed by the squadron in the following order:- Imperiéuse, Euryalus, Tartar, Esk, Conflict, Archer, Arrogant; the latter, which was the last to weigh, took the station third on passing the Knab. The whole then presented a very interesting spectacle, which the clearness and beauty of the weather considerably enhanced. At 4 15 the Fairy altered her course to the westward, and hoisted a signal of farewell, which was kept flying until the last of the departing squadron had steamed by, each in turn again manning their rigging and cheering. The yacht then put on steam, and returned through the fleet at Spithead to Osborne, arriving about 5 o’clock, at which time the "flying squadron" was about five miles from the Knab, on their way to the Downs, the Impérieuse several miles a-head. The departure of this small instalment of the Baltic fleet was witnessed by many thousands of spectators, besides those afloat; the walls of Portsmouth, the piers and beach at the Isle of Wight and at Southsea, were thronged with myriads of sightseers, and the Queen’s visit lent additional interest to the movement. The Vivid, with an Admiralty party on board, and numerous private packets, yachts, and smaller craft were also present, and gave additional animation to its features. Rear-Admiral Baynes will ultimately command the "flying squadron" of this fleet, but his flagship (the Retribution, 28, Captain Fisher) will not be out of the hands of the dockyard artificers until the 7th proximo. The fleet needs 3,000 or 4,000 men to complete it, and these are supposed to be provided by the sailing ships on their way home or about to be detached from other stations. The Vulture, 6, Captain Glasse; the Driver, 6, Commander Rice; and the Lightning, 4 (tender to the Duke of Wellington), joined the fleet yesterday. The Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford, will be ready to join to-day, and also the Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett. The Dee and Rhadamanthus left yesterday for the westward. Mr. John Ward, who was selected as inspector of machinery in the fleet of Sir Charles Napier, has been again selected to fill the same responsible appointment in the fleet of Rear-Admiral Dundas, and has re-joined the Duke of Wellington.

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