HMS Vindictive

HMS Vindictive (1813)

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Name	Vindictive (1813)	Explanation
Type	Third rate
Launched	23 November 1813
Hull	Wooden
Propulsion	Sail
Builders measure	1758 tons
Displacement
Guns	74
Fate	1871
Class	Armada
Ships book
Note	1832 reduced to 50 guns. 1862 storeship. 1871 foundered and wreck sold
Snippets concerning this vessels career
Date	Event
(January 1840)	Out of commission at Portsmouth
17 October 1841 - 31 March 1843	Commanded by Captain John Toup Nicolas, East Indies
19 January 1845 - 16 June 1848	Commanded by Captain Michael Seymour, flagship of Vice-Admiral Francis William Austen, North America and West Indies
1 August 1862	Commanded by Master commander William Frederick Lew, bread and coal store, Fernando Po
*Extracts from the Times* newspaper**
Date	Extract
Ma 2 November 1840	The Vengeance, 84, will be taken out of dock on Monday, 9th instant, and will then be rigged under the superintendence of Mr. Miller, the master of the Victory. The masts and yards are selected for the St. Vincent. Neptune, Warspite, and Vindictive. The Trincomalee and Madagascar are in every respect ready for commission, the bulkheads and interior fittings being all complete.
Fr 5 February 1841	Portsmouth.— An augmentation of the Royal Marine Corps has been ordered, report says, to the extent of 3,000 men, which is strongly indicative of a further increase to the navy in the spring. Several splendid ships at the different ports are silently, but expeditiously, being completed for commission. The Vindictive, and Warspite, 50-gun ships, are ordered for commission at this port, as soon as ready. The former is said to be intended for the Lisbon command, with a Commodore's pendant. Rear-Admiral Sir Edward King, K.C.B., reached Rio de Janeiro in the Southampton frigate, from Plymouth on the 14th of November, and was to proceed to the Pacific in about ten days, to succeed Rear-Admiral Ross, C.B., who will return to England in the President frigate, and may be expected home about April next. The Inconstant, 36, Captain Pring, has received orders to proceed to the Mediterranean, it is reported to supply the place of the Pique, 36, ordered home to be docked, &c. She was to leave Plymouth on Tuesday for Malta, taking out between 300 and 400 volunteer seamen for disposal in the fleet. The Endymion frigate, Captain the Hon. F.W. Grey, is under orders for the East Indies, to join Rear-Admiral Elliott's squadron, for whom she will take despatches and supernumeraries for the squadron. The corvette Tweed, 20, Commander Douglas, has bent sails, and is waiting Admiralty orders. It is said she will proceed to the South American station. The corvette Iris, 26, Captain Nurse, has left Spithead for service on the coast of Africa. She took despatches for the senior officer there. It is reported that the Andromache, 26, Captain Baynes, is to go to the East Indies from the Cape of Good Hope. The steamer Lizard, Lieutenant Estcourt, will leave this harbour to-morrow, for the Mediterranean, taking despatches for Sir Robert Stopford. The brig Pelican, 16, Commander Napier, is waiting Admiralty orders at Spithead; she is in want of several petty officers to complete her crew. The Monarch, 84, Captain Chambers, will be at Spithead, according to a private letter, on the 8th instant, from Sheerness.— Brighton Gazette.
Ma 12 April 1841	(From the Hampshire Telegraph of Saturday.) The St. Vincent, Madagascar, and Fair Rosamond, were put out of the basin on Monday, and the Vindictive and Warspite on Tuesday, in order that the basin might be run dry, to repair the works of the wood-mills. The Mercury sailed to-day for Sheerness, with a lieutenant of the Indus on board, to volunteer men from the Asia for that ship. The Emerald sailed yesterday for Devonport, with seamen gunners for the Cornwallis. The keel of a second class steamer, to be called the Thunderbolt, was laid down in this dockyard on Wednesday last.
We 29 December 1841	PORTSMOUTH, Tuesday. The Thalia, 42, Captain C. Hope, arrived at Spithead yesterday from the eastward. She has recently come from Leith, where she has been very successful in procuring volunteers to join her. The Powerful, 84, Captain M. Seymour, will come into the harbour this day, and will be paid off as soon as she is unrigged. She was to have come in yesterday, but was prevented by the thick fog which was prevailing at the time the tide would admit of her entering the harbour. Vice-Admiral Sir J.A. Ommanney has struck his flag. The Numa transport, with the detachments of the Royal Artillery and 59th Regiment on board, bound to the West Indies, is still at Spithead, but will sail to-day if the wind is in any way favourable. The detachment of the Royal Artillery has already been upwards of a month on board of her. The Queen, 110, Captain Rich, bent her sails yesterday, and is now all ataunt. She will proceed on Wednesday or Thursday to Spithead. The whole of the ships now fitting out here for foreign service, consisting of the Warspite, 50, Vindictive, 50, Rapid, 10, and Queen, 110, will go out of harbour this week. Ships at Spithead:— Powerful, 84, Thalia, 42, Hazard, 18, Snake, 16, and Numa transport. Ships in harbour.— St. Vincent, Victory, Queen, Warspite, Vindictive, Rapid, Royal George yacht, Excellent and Adventure naval transport.
Sa 8 January 1842	The Warspite, 50, Captain Lord John Hay, has been reported ready for sea for some days. She will go out of harbour on Tuesday, and will not remain at Spithead more than a few hours, whence she will proceed to the Downs or Sheerness, preparatory to her sailing to Ostend or Antwerp, to convey the King of Prussia to this country. She is the admiration of all the nautical men here, and a more fitting vessel could not have been selected for the honourable service in which she is about to be employed. The Vindictive, 50, Captain Toup Nicholas, is also ready for sea. She, as well as the Warspite, is a first-rate frigate, and admirably appointed; but of the two, the Warspite is considered the finer, and is nearly 200 tons heavier. The Vindictive's crew do not by any means admit of the Warspite being the finer frigate, and there is an extreme jealousy between the two ships companies on this point, so much so, that when the Warspite's and Vindictive's liberty-men meet on shore there is generally a battle between them. This has been carried to so great an extent, that the civil authorities have been obliged to interfere, there being upwards of 100 belligerents engaged in the last rencontre. There is no question, that should either of these dashing frigates be destined to fall in with an enemy of equal or even superior force, they will give a pretty good account of their opponent, and prove that their present mimic warfare among themselves is but an earnest of what they will do when opposed to the enemies of their country.
Ma 10 January 1842	It is now understood that the squadron which will be despatched to convey the King of Prussia to this country will consist of the Warspite, 50, Captain Right Hon. Lord John Hay; the Vindictive, 50, Captain T. Toup Nicholas; the Formidable, 84, Captain Sir Charles Sullivan; and the Alfred, 50, Commodore Purvis. The two last-named ships are now at Sheerness; the Warspite and Vindictive will go round in the course of the week. After this service the Warspite will take out the Right Hon. Lord Ashburton on his mission to America [where he negotiated the Webster-Ashburton Treaty]. There will be two or three steamers, besides the Firebrand, in which vessel it is alleged His Majesty will embark, but upon this point nothing is positively known, for it entirely depends upon His Majesty’s own inclination whether he will embark in a steamer or a man-of-war.
Fr 14 January 1842	PORTSMOUTH, Thursday, Jan. 13. The Warspite. 50, Captain Lord John Hay, hauled off from her hulk to moorings yesterday afternoon, preparatory to her going out of harbour, which it was intended she should do this day, but as the wind is right in her teeth and blowing fresh, she will be compelled to postpone her departure for Spithead until the wind moderates or becomes more favourable. A steamer of the first class, with great power, is much wanted here to assist vessels out of harbour, as the Echo Government steam tug, which is usually employed in towing vessels out to Spithead, is not sufficiently powerful to take out a large ship like the Warspite in the face of even a moderate wind. At the time the "Queen" went out of harbour the Vixen steam frigate was sent for specially to assist in taking her out. The Warspite will sail on Saturday. The North Sea Pilots, who are to take her and the Vindictive into the port where His Majesty the King of Prussia will embark, arrived here yesterday, having come round for the express purpose of undertaking the duty. It is not yet known in what particular vessel His Majesty will embark. The Warspite has been ordered to get a Prussian standard from the dock-yard, to be ready in the event of His Majesty preferring a sailing vessel to a steamer. The Vindictive, 50, Captain Toup Nicholas, which is to be the consort of the Warspite in conveying the King of Prussia j to England, has all her running gear up, and will bend her sails to-morrow. Every exertion. is being made to get her ready for sea by Saturday. The Alfred, 50, Commodore Purvis, will not be in a sufficient state of forwardness to form one of the squadron to attend on the King of Prussia, as she will not be ready for sea within three weeks. The squadron will consist of the Warspite, Vindictive, and Formidable. It is expected that Admiral Sir C. Seymour, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, will hoist his flag on board the Formidable and accompany the squadron on this special mission.
Tu 18 January 1842	THE KING OF PRUSSIA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) THE DOWNS, Monday Evening. The squadron appointed to escort His Majesty the King of Prussia to this country has been ordered to assemble here. Two of the ships have already arrived — the Warspite, 50, Captain the Hon. Lord John Hay, and the Vindictive, 50, Captain Nicholas. The Formidable, 84, Captain Sir Charles Sullivan, has left Sheerness, and is expected here every tide, together with the Firebrand, and the other steamers which are to form a portion of the expedition. The Warspite arrived here yesterday, early in the morning, and the Vindictive this afternoon. They are lying at single anchor, very near to each other, and are objects of very considerable attraction, and excite the admiration of all the nautical men assembled here, of which there are a great many at present, there being about seventy merchant vessels at anchor, wind bound. The Warspite, when she was in commission as a 74, used to sail remarkably well, and still retains her powers of speed now she has been razeed. This is the first time the Vindictive has ever been at sea, either as a razee or previous to her being cut down, for she never was in commission as a 74. From the opportunity that has been afforded in her trip from Portsmouth to this place of ascertaining her qualities, it is considered that she will prove a very good sailer. No doubt the Warspite and she will have a trial of speed while out together on their present excursion. It is expected that the squadron will leave this on Wednesday, and proceed off Ostend, and there await His Majesty’s embarkation; but of course this or any other arrangement must be subject to the wind and weather which at the time may be prevailing. There is a very great probability, that, unless the weather is extremely favourable, His Majesty will take the most direct course, and shorten his sea voyage by landing at Ramsgate. This is generally the plan adopted by King Leopold of Belgium when he visits England. According to the present arrangement, however, it is intended to take His Majesty up the river, and land him at Woolwich, the ships of war accompanying him to the Nore. It is understood, though by no means certain, that he will embark on Thursday. The fulfilment of this as well as the other arrangements must be entirely governed by the circumstances which may occur in the mean time.
We 19 January 1842	The Downs, Tuesday.—The Warspite and the Vindictive frigates got under weigh this day, at 12 o’clock, and proceeded in company to Ostend, there to await the embarkation of His Majesty the King of Prussia, which is to take place on Thursday next. The Formidable, it is understood, will not form one of the squadron, but will be at anchor in the Nore, ready to man the yards and salute His Majesty as he passes. The Firebrand and another steamer have already gone over to Ostend, where they will be joined by the Warspite and Vindictive. The Royal Visiters.—Woolwich, Jan. 18.— The Firebrand steam vessel, Commander John Neale Nott, was expected to leave her moorings at half-past 1 o’clock to-day, to proceed to Ostend, to be in waiting to receive the King of Prussia, but had not sailed at 4 o’clock, in consequence of some defect being discovered in her engines when she got her steam up and was ready to start. A numerous party went on board the Firebrand so late as 11 o’clock last night, several of whom were the guests of the Lord Mayor yesterday after being present at the laying of the foundation stone of the Royal Exchange. The Shearwater steam vessel, Captain Washington, has her steam up, and is ready to sail from her moorings opposite the dockyard, to form part of the squadron destined to accompany the King of Prussia to this country. The Lightning steam vessel, second master H.K. Bowen, having given satisfaction during her experimental trip yesterday, has been ordered to form part of the squadron, and has her steam up to-day in readiness to proceed with the Firebrand and Shearwater steam vessels to Ostend. The orders have not yet been issued defining the duties of the troops of the garrison of Woolwich on the day of the arrival of the King of Prussia in England, but the highest authorities in these matters state that the Guard of Honour of the Royal Marines will have to attend at Greenwich on Friday, the 21st inst., as the arrival of his Majesty is now expected to take place on that day, or early on the following morning, if no unforeseen circumstance retard the vessels in their voyage. It is now more generally the opinion in all quarters that the landing of the King of Prussia will take place at Greenwich. Their Majesties the Kings of Prussia and Belgium will land at the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, on Friday next, at 12 o’clock (weather permitting). They will be received by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Cabinet Ministers, Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, the Governor, the Foreign Ambassadors, and corps diplomatique. The Royal Marines, as a guard of honour, will be drawn up in the grand square. The pensioners, of which there are 2,710 within the hospital, under the command of Lieutenants Rivers and Bedford, will range round the quadrangle. The one-armed and one-legged college men who have fought under Nelson, Collingwood, and other naval heroes, will be placed at the royal landing-place, through these the distinguished visitors will pass. The boys of the upper and lower school of the Naval Asylum, under the command of Lieutenant Rouse, R.N., will be drawn up at the steps between the painted hall and the chapel. Lieutenants Tucker, Felton, De Montmorency, and Casey, will have charge of the gate. The east gate is for the admission only of those who have tickets; the west gate for ingress and egress of the carriages of the Royal family and the Cabinet Ministers and Ambassadors. All the naval and other officers are to appear in their full uniforms, and the pensioners and scholars in their best suits. The east side of the grand square will be appropriated to the officers’ families and the persons admitted by tickets of admission, which are from the Governor only. Their Majesties do not intend visiting any part of the institution, as the entire procession will proceed to Windsor Castle, via. Camberwell and Wandsworth, shortly after their landing. The landing-place will be covered with crimson carpeting, as well as the pathway leading to the Royal carriages. The splendid bands of the Royal Marines and Royal Artillery will be in attendance. Some strong detachments of cavalry will also attend, and a sufficient body of the metropolitan police, together with Mr. T. Fisher, high constable of the borough. and the local authorities.
Fr 28 January 1842	PERILOUS SITUATION OF HER MAJESTY’S SHIP VINDICTIVE. PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 26. (From a Private Correspondent of the Standard.) The Warspite, 50, Captain the Right Hon. Lord John Hay, C.B., arrived yesterday from the Downs. This ship is ordered to be got ready for sea as soon as possible, to receive on board Lord Ashburton, and convey him to New York. The Vindictive, 50, Captain Toup Nicholas, C.B., left the Downs in company with the Warspite, for Spithead; she has not yet arrived. It is supposed the Vindictive will take out Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane recently appointed to the East India command. The Hastings, 74, at present preparing to pay off at this port, will, next week, be recommissioned by Captain H.W. Bruce, as the permanent flag-ship of Sir T. Cochrane. The Spy, 10, Lieutenant Potbury, sailed yesterday for Plymouth. The Queen, 110, Captain Rich, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen (red at the fore), Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, will be ready for sea next week, having a complement of upwards of 1,000 men. The Formidable, 80, Captain Sir C. Sullivan, with the Alfred, 50, Commodore J.B. Purvis, are ordered to this port from the eastward. The former ship proceeds to the Mediterranean, and the latter for South America. The Revenge, 78, Captain the Hon. W. Waldegrave, is daily expected at Spithead from the Mediterranean, to be paid off; as also the Winchester, 52, Captain Carter, from North America, to be recommissioned by Captain C. Eden, for the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir J. Percy, ordered to the Cape of Good Hope as Commander-in-Chief, vice King. Noon. Since writing the above, Her Majesty's ship Vindictive has been discovered in a perilous situation, at anchor near the dangerous sand or shoal called "the Dean," off St. Helen's. It is at present blowing a gale of wind from W. by S.. and should it not moderate, great fears are entertained that this splendid frigate will ground on the edge of the shoal. 4 p.m. The Vindictive has unfortunately grounded on "the Dean," with her mizenmast cut away, and a heavy sea breaking over her, owing to the violence of the wind, now blowing a strong gale about W.S.W., with every appearance of the wind increasing. She has fired several guns, and made signate of distress. Unfortunately there is only one small steamer belonging to Government now here; two dockyard lighters are gone to her assistance with anchors and cables. It is feared little or no good can be rendered this ill-fated ship, owing to the lateness of the day; and, from her alarming position, white the present gale continues, it would be attended with danger getting boats on board her. The Vindictive is a new frigate, built at this dockyard, on Mr. Blake's plan. This is the first time of her going to sea. The greatest anxiety and suspense will naturally prevail during the night as to the fate of this noble ship, with her gallant crew, near 400 in number. (FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.) PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday, 9 o’clock, p.m. I regret to inform you that the fine ship Vindictive, 50. Captain T. Nicholas, C.B., K.H., is now aground on "the Dean," having taken the ground this day at noon, and remained there, with the sea beating over her, till night hid her from our view. The last glimpse we had of her, her mizen had gone over the side — most probably cut away. At it will not be high-water till midnight, and the ship would of course be much strained, it is feared she will drive on the iron coast of Selsy Bill; if so, the most serious consequences may be dreaded. LATER INTELLIGENCE. (From our own correspondent.) PORTSMOUTH, Thursday. The Vindictive, 50,Captain J.T. Nicholas, took the ground on the "Dean" Bank, near Spithead, yesterday morning and was, last night, considered to be in imminent peril; am happy, however, to inform you she got off this morning with the loss only of her mizen mast, the wind fortunately having shifted from S.W. to N.W.
Sa 29 January 1842	PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 28. The Vindictive will go into harbour at high water to-day, and will be taken into dock to be examined, in order to ascertain to what extent she has been injured by her late disaster. It was intended that she should proceed to China with the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir T. Cochrane; but whether such intention will now be carried out will depend entirely upon the state she is found to be in upon examination, and how long it will take to repair the damage she bas sustained. The Warspite returned to Spithead on Tuesday evening last. Her powers of sailing are found to surpass even the most sanguine expectations of those who knew her of old, when as a 74 on the South American station, with the flag of Admiral Sir T. Baker, she was noted as a fast sailer, and made one of the quickest passages from Rio to this country on record. On Monday night, at 11 o'clock, she was in company with the Vindictive, off the South Foreland, and on the Tuesday morning she anchored at Spithead, while the Vindictive did not reach the offing until Tuesday afternoon, and was obliged to bring up there, the tide being against her and the wind having dropped. It was in removing from the anchorage to endeavour to reach Spithead on the following morning that she unfortunately got on shore. The Warspite sails admirably, even in a moderate breeze, but it is when the wind is fresh that she displays her speed to the greatest advantage. It is considered by competent judges that few, if any, ships in our own, or any other service, can equal her. She is now having her bulk heads fitted up to make the additional cabins necessary for the accommodation of Lord Ashburton and suite. The Hastings, 74, is nearly unrigged, and will be paid off to-morrow. The Queen, 110, is likely to remain at Spithead for three or four weeks longer, as she is still considerably short of her complement of hands, and it is expected it will take that time before she obtains the whole of them.
Ma 31 January 1842	PORTSMOUTH, Sunday. The Wolverine, 16, Commander Johnson, arrived this morning from the eastward. She will complete her stores and ship's company at this port, whence she will proceed to China. The Vindictive has been taken into dock, and upon being examined all her injuries are found to be forward, and not abaft, as was supposed from her mizen-mast having been cut away. It appears that nearly the whole of her false keel is gone, and that about 30 feet of her main-keel forward are destroyed, her gripe is gone, the stern about 7 feet up destroyed, her frame much shook, her copper much ruffled, and the oakum for about three streaks from the garboard is started fore and aft. It will be necessary to take out her guns and all her stores before she can be repaired; and it is considered that it will take a month or six weeks before she can again be got ready for sea. It is understood that there will be a court-martial to investigate the matter. The Ringdove, 16, was commissioned yesterday afternoon by Commander Sir W. Daniel. The Lively cutter, which went out of harbour with an anchor and cables and a number of riggers on board, to assist the Vindictive when on shore on Wednesday, was unable to reach her, but was blown out to sea by the hurricane, with the loss of her jib, mainsail, and bowsprit. She, however, got safe into the Downs on Thursday. The Warspite is expected to leave on Tuesday week, the 8th of February, with Lord Ashburton and suite, for New York. It is expected that the Edinburgh, 72, will be commissioned for the flag of Sir Thomas Cochrane, which it was intended should have been hoisted on board the Vindictive.
Fr 4 February 1842	The Rapid, 10, Lieutenant-Commander E.C. Earle, went out of harbour yesterday afternoon. She has her full complement of men, and will be paid in advance to-morrow, previous to her sailing for the coast of Africa, where she is to be stationed. It is understood that she will touch at Plymouth. Several officers are going out in her as passengers, to join the various ships on the station to which they have been recently appointed. The Hastings, 74, Captain J. Lawrence, C.B., was paid off yesterday. Many of her hands have volunteered into the Queen and other ships fitting out here. The Warspite, 50, Captain the Right Hon. Lord John Hay, C.B., after proceeding to New York with Lord Ashburton, will join the squadron stationed at the West Indies and North America, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adams, K.C.B. It is expected that Lord Ashburton and suite will embark on Monday or Tuesday next, and that the Warspite will sail on the same or the following day. The Queen, 110, Captain G.F. Rich, is now quite ready for sea, with the exception of not having yet completed her complement of men. These, however, she is now procuring very fast. She obtained yesterday a number of volunteers from the Hastings when that ship was paid off, and she is continually receiving men who have been brought from various seaports in the kingdom to join her. 22 volunteers for her are expected daily from Bristol, under the charge of Mr Molesworth, on board the Mercury cutter, which was disabled in the Bristol Channel during the late severe gales. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen will re-hoist his flag on board of her in a few days. She will be at least three weeks before she leaves for the Mediterranean. The Vindictive, 50, Captain J. Toup Nicholas, has had all her masts, guns and stores, taken out, and was docked yesterday morning. The shipwrights are at work upon her, and she is to be got ready for sea again with all possible despatch. The Geyser, Commander E.J. Carpenter, and the Growler, Commander C.H.M. Buckle, steam-frigates, will come round here from the eastward to complete their stores and complement of men, preparatory to proceeding to a foreign station. The Alfred, 50, Commodore J.B. Purvis, is expected daily from Sheerness. She is the same class vessel as the Vindictive, Several of the Hastings' ship’s company have volunteered into her, and will join her when she comes round to Spithead. The President, 50, Captain Broughton, is expected home from the South American station every day, the Dublin, 50, Captain T. Tucker, having arrived there some months since to relieve her.
Sa 12 February 1842	The total number of vessels that have already sailed, or are about to sail, to join the squadron in the Chinese seas is 15, being 1 line of battle-ship, the Implacable, 74, fitting for the flag of Sir T. Cochrane; 4 frigates, the Cambrian, 36, Captain H.D. Chads, C.B., the Thalia, 44, Captain C. Hope, the North Star, 28, Captain Sir J.E. Home, and the Vindictive, 50, Captain J. Toup Nicholas; 6 sloops of war, the Dido, 20, Captain the Hon. H. Keppel, the Hazard, 18, Commander C. Bell, the Syren, 16, Commander W. Smith, the Harlequin, 10, Commander G.F. Hastings, the Wolverine, 16, Commander J.W.S. Johnson, and the Serpent, 16, Commander W. Nevill; 3 troop ships, the Belleisle, Captain J. Kingcome, the Apollo, Commander C, Frederick, and the Sapphire, Master Commander G.H. Cole; and 1 hospital-ship, the Minden, Captain M. Quin. The ships of war carry altogether 334 guns. The majority of them have already sailed; the Implacable, Vindictive, Wolverine, and Minden (hospital-ship) being the only vessels not yet ready. The Wolverene and Minden will sail in a day or two, and the Vindictive in about three weeks; the Implacable will take some time longer, as she has only recently been put in commission. It is now understood that the Carysfort frigate, 26, Captain Lord G. Paulett, which has lately been commissioned at this port, is to proceed to China. This will make the number of vessels ordered to reinforce the squadron already there 16, and the total number of guns 360, exclusive of these on board the troopships, which are armed en flute.

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