HMS Nonpareil (1808)
"HMS Nonpareil" was launched at Baltimore in 1801 or 1807. The Navy captured her in 1808 and purchased her. "Nonpareil" captured a French naval brig in a severe action in 1810. The Navy sold "Nonpareil" in 1813 after a storm damaged her. Origins and capture. Sources differ over when "Nonpareil" was launched, and when she was captured. Two sources state that she was launched in 1801. Some sources state that the British seized "Nonpareil" when they captured Montevideo in 1807. Royal Navy. The Navy purchased "Nonpareil" and registered her on 7 July 1808. Lieutenant James Dickenson commissioned  her in June. On 26 March 1809 he sailed her for the Spanish Coast. Then on 23 June 1810 Dickenson sailed "Nonpareil" for Newfoundland. On 10 October 1808 "Nonpareil" and went in pursuit of a vessel leaving Corruna suspected of being a French privateer from Martinique. "Nonpareil" lost her in the night. "Nonpareil" had arrived on the 9th with a messenger, and was about to return to England, perhaps with despatches. On 12 October "Nonpareil" captured the merchantman "Belle Coquette". "Nonpareil" was in company with . On 28 February 1809 "Nonpareil" captured the merchantman "Natalie". On 10 May 1810, "Nonpareil" took  the brig "Cannoniere", off the Vilaine. The action took an hour and a quarter before "Cannoniere" struck. "Cannoniere" had a crew of 61 men and was armed with three 12-pounder guns and two 24-pounder carronades. The French lost 11 men killed and eight wounded; British casualties were two wounded. "Lloyd's List" reported that "Cannoniere" had been armed with 32-pounder and three 18–pounder guns, and 10 swivel guns; she had a crew of 70 men. Lieutenant Thomas Cowper Sherwin commanded "Nonpareil" from 22 October 1810 in the Channel until 1812. "Nonpareil" was one of the 25  naval vessels that shared in the proceeds of the detention of "Asia" on 5 August 1812. Fate. A storm in the Tagus on 19 December 1812 damaged "Nonpareil". She was among the many vessels wrecked or damaged there. She was sold there in 1813. The courtmartial on 24 December 1812 absolved Sherwin, his officers, and the crew of "Nonpareil" of any blame for her loss. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References