HMS Hart (1805)
HMS "Hart" was a French schooner launched in 1789 that in 1804 was renamed "Empereur" and that cruised as a privateer out of Guadeloupe. The British Royal Navy captured "Empereur" in 1805 and took her into service. She captured numerous small merchant vessels and participated in the capture of the Danish West Indies in December 1807. The Navy sold her in 1810. Capture. On the evening of 3 April 1805 the 74-gun third-rate was cruising with a squadron when she broke away in chase of a schooner. "Eagle" caught up with the schooner at around  midnight and captured her. The schooner was the French privateer "Empereur", of 14 guns and 82 men. She was 42 days out of Guadeloupe but had captured nothing. Captain David Colby of "Eagle" described "Empereur" as "a very fine Vessel of her Description, coppered and sails well". "Eagle" brought her into Carlisle Bay, Barbados; the Royal Navy took her into service as HMS "Hart". Royal Navy. Commander John Ellis Watt commissioned "Hart" in March 1806. On 4 August "Hart" captured the schooner "Hannah", Eldridge, master. On 6 August "Hart" was in company with , , and when they captured "Hercules". Commander William  Coombe was to replace Watt in early 1807. As first lieutenant of , Coombe had led the boats that on 21 January 1807 captured in a notable action. The surviving British officers received promotions. Coombe was promoted to commander but received an appointment as captain of "Hart", not "Lynx". "Hart" was a lesser vessel than "Lynx" and Coombe complained to the admiral of the station and then to the Admiralty. The Admiralty reversed the appointments, which led to Coombe fighting a duel with the relegated captain. Coombe commissioned HMS "Heureux", the former "Lynx", in April 1807. It is not clear when  Coombe replaced Watt. Prize money notices are ambiguous. On 21 September "Hart", Commander William Coombe, captured the Danish brig "Adventure", Colin, master. "Galatea" and "Hart", Commander Coombe ("Deceased"), shared in the prize money for the capture on 1 October 1807 of the schooner "John and Joseph", Hansen, master. On 4 October, "Hart". Commander Watt, was in company with "Jason", "Maria", and when they captured the schooner "Rebecca". "Cerberus", and "Hart", William Coombe ("late Commander"),shared the prize money for the galiot "Mary", Durham, master, captured on 10 October. "Hart", , , "Galatea", , , and "Pert" shared in His Majesty's grant for the Danish  schooner "Danske Patriot", Outerbridge, master, captured on 20 October. The prize money notice gave the name of "Hart"s commander as William Coombe. On 15 December 1807 arrived at Barbados with the news of war with Denmark. Admiral Cochrane immediately set sail for the Danish West Indies in his flagship, , together with a squadron including , , , , , , and a number of other vessels, including "Hart". The expedition included troops from the 70th and 90th Regiments of Foot under the overall army commander, General Henry Bowyer. St Thomas surrendered on 22 December and St Croix on 25 December. A prize money notice in the  London Gazette in 1816 gives a list of the vessels, and the army units that participated in the campaign. "Hart" no longer appeared in prize money or other notices in the "London Gazette" for events after December 1807. Fate. The Navy sold "Hart" in 1810. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References