HMS Daring (1844)
HMS "Daring" was a 12 gun-brig of the Royal Navy which became part of the Experimental Squadrons of both 1844 and 1845, and later served in the West Indies. She was sold in 1864. Construction. "Daring" was designed by Mr. Thomas White of Cowes and built in Portsmouth Dockyard. She was launched on 2 April 1844 and commissioned on 22 October the same year. History. The Experimental Squadron of 1844. From September 1844 until February 1847, she was commanded by Commander Henry James Matson, an outspoken abolitionist and hero of the Preventative Squadron. She was employed  on the Home Station, where she formed part of the 1844 Experimental Brig Squadron. "The Times" stated: She appeared to be a good sailer; the report of the comparative sailing qualities of the vessels making up the Experimental Brig Squadron reads: The Experimental Squadron of 1845. "Daring" joined the two-deckers "Albion", "Vanguard", "Superb", "Rodney" and "Canopus" on the third cruise of the 1845 Experimental Squadron, the only brig to do so. They were joined on 21 October by the wooden steam sloop HMS "Rattler". "The Times" reported that "Daring" could often not keep up with the larger ships: " Service  on the North America and West Indies Station. From 1846 "Daring" served on the North America and West Indies Station. On 10 June 1846 she captured the Spanish slave schooners "Rauret" and "Numa" off Guano Point. The Mixed Court of Justice at the Havana found in favour of the owners and sentenced the ships to be restored to their masters on 15 July 1846. The Wreck of USS "Somers". The United States government awarded medals to thirty-nine officers and crew of "Daring", "Endymion" and "Alarm" in recognition of saving several officers and crew of the United States brig "Somers  in the harbour of Vera Cruz on 10 December 1846. Daring" apparently served the rest of her career on the North America and West Indies Station, returning to Britain at the end of each commission. Commander William Peel (a later winner of the VC and 3rd son of Sir Robert Peel, British Prime Minister) became her captain from February 1847 until October 1848. She refitted at Chatham in 1850 and from August 1852 was commanded by Commander Gerard John Napier. A memorial Inscription in the Port Royal Parish Church records that Lieutenant Smith, Midshipman Trevillian and 5 seamen of "Daring  were drowned on June 23rd, 1853,- by the upsetting of one of her boats, - in the crossing of Tampico." She visited the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1855, and is recorded on a 20c stamp issued by the islands in August 1973. Disposal. She was sold out of the service to Castle and Beech on 7 October 1864 and broken up at Charlton in March 1865. Her figurehead, a contemporary sailor staring straight ahead, is on display at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.