HMS Hinchinbrook ( 1778 ) HMS " Hinchinbrook " was the French privateer " Astrée " , which the British captured in 1778 and took into the Royal Navy as a 28 - gun sixth - rate frigate . She was Captain Horatio Nelson ' s second navy command , after the brig , and his first as post - captain . She was wrecked , with no loss of life , in January 1783 . Privateering career . The " Hinchinbrook " started life as the French merchant vessel " Astrée " , built in 1778 at Nantes , and her owners were Guilliaume and Son , of that city . She was carrying a cargo of bricks and bale goods from Nantes when a British squadron under Captain Joseph Deane in captured her off Cape François , on 13 October 1778 . She was described as being a ship of 650 tons , armed with 14 guns , and under the command of Louis David , master . A prize crew then took her into port , where the Royal Navy purchased her for the sum of £5 , 650 on 1 December 1778 , renaming her as a courtesy to Viscount Hinchinbroke , eldest son of John Montagu , 4th Earl of Sandwich , First Lord of the Admiralty in Lord North ' s administration . British career . Admiral Sir Peter Parker had intended to have " Hinchinbrook " upgraded to a 32 - gun fifth rate , but this never came about . Instead , she became a 28 - gun sixth rate , with a crew of 200 men . She was commissioned that December at Jamaica under Commander Christopher Parker . In May 1779 , Captain Charles Nugent replaced Parker , who had been promoted to post captain in March . In September , Captain Horatio Nelson took command of " Hinchinbrook " and escorted a convoy to Greytown , Nicaragua . Nelson and the " Hinchinbrook " were based in the San Juan River from January until April 1780 . " Hinchinbrook " s assignment was to support an expedition that Major - General John Dalling ' s wanted to capture the Spanish colonies in Central America , including an assault on the fortress of San Juan . " Hinchinbrook " was to take troops to the mouth of the San Juan River and wait for their return . The troops would go 70 miles up the river , take the fort , and then go on to capture other Spanish possessions . The expeditionary force was small , it was the dry season and so the river was low , and the climate was putrid . Nelson decided to leave " Hinchinbrook " and take the troops up the river himself . He used small boats that would ground in the shallows and have to be dragged by hand . At one point , a barefoot Nelson led a small group of sailors to capture the out fort of San Bartholomew . The force eventually did reach Fort San Juan and captured it , but between war and disease , about 140 of " Hinchinbrook ' s " crew of 200 men died and the whole expedition too was decimated . Nelson himself became ill , and debilitated by dysentery , withdrew " Hinchinbrook " back down the river . His friend Captain Cuthbert Collingwood replaced him in command of " Hinchinbrook " and brought the remainder of the expedition back to Jamaica . ( Nelson and Collingwood had served together three years earlier in ; the transport " Victor " took Nelson from " Hinchinbrook " to Jamaica , where he took command of the frigate of 44 guns . ) Collingwood remained in command of " Hinchinbrook " until December , when Captain Charles Hotchkys replaced him . Hotchkys ' s replacement , in February 1781 , was Captain George Stoney , who in turn was replaced by Captain Sylverius Moriaty in June 1781 . Moriaty was one among many navy personnel who suffered in the unhealthy climate of the West Indies ; he was twice relieved during his period of command by Captain John Fish due to his health problems . Fish last commanded " Hinchinbrook " from 21 September 1781 to 12 February 1782 , but apparently was on six weeks leave in January 1782 . On 13 January 1782 Admiral Peter Parker appointed Lieutenant John Markham to command " Hinchinbroke " . Markham ' s orders were to cruise off the east end of Jamaica to protect trade . Fate . " Hinchinbrook " left Port Royal , Jamaica on 18 January 1782 and almost immediately started to take on water . The next day Markham decided to try to get to St Anne ’ s Bay , Jamaica but as she approached the harbour she stopped responding to the helm and she ran aground on a reef east of the harbour . Despite numerous efforts , her crew was unable to get her over or off the reef . A schooner came alongside and took off her guns , some stores , and her crew . She then sank that night .