Claim: The sinking of the HMS Avon occurred in the Atlantic Ocean in 1814 after a battle with the USS Wasp, which had never been under the Command of Johnston Blakely.
Evidence: The heavy sloop of war USS Wasp had spent seven weeks in Lorient in France, making repairs after an earlier hard-fought action against HMS Reindeer, and replacing casualties from the crews of American privateers in the port. Later that day, as night was falling, Master Commandant Johnston Blakely, commanding Wasp, spotted four other unknown sail, and made for the nearest. After service in President during the Quasi-War with France and command of Enterprise early in the War of 1812, Master Commandant Blakeley was appointed to command of the newly built sloop-of-war Wasp. In 1814, he made a very successful cruise which in June included the sinking of HMS Reindeer.