HMS Algerine (1810)
HMS "Algerine" was a "Pigmy"–class 10-gun schooner of the Royal Navy. She was launched in March 1810. She served in the North Sea and then transferred to the West Indies, where she was wrecked in 1813. Career. "Algerine" was commissioned in April 1810 under Lieutenant John Aitken Blow. She served initially in the Downs. On 30 March 1811, "Algerine", under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Greenwood, seized the smuggling vessel "Mandamus". The account in the "London Gazette" refers to "Algerine" as a cutter. On 13 July 1811, "Algerine", again under Blow, and the 12-gun brig -sloop "Brev Drageren", under Thomas Barker Devon, engaged three Danish brigs in Long Sound, Norway, the 20-gun "Lolland", the 18-gun "Lougen", and the 16-gun "Kiel". The Danes had 54 guns and 480 men, against the British 22 guns and 107 men; The next day "Brev Drageren" unsuccessfully re-engaged first one and then two of the brigs. In the inconclusive engagement each British vessel sustained one man killed and "Brev Drageren" also had three wounded. In the second day’s fight, "Algerine" sent a boat with ten men and sweeps to "Brev Drageren", which helped her escape  the Danes, though not until after her crew had rowed for 30 hours. On 15 July the gun-brig , under Lieutenant J.B. Pettit (or Pettet), captured the Danish sloop "Experiment", P. Loft, Master. "Algerine" shared in the prize money by agreement. Early in September "Primus", carrying tar and hemp, "Worksam", in ballast, "Experiment", carrying iron, "Columbus", carrying linseed, "Neptunus", carrying timber, and "Hector", carrying sundry goods, came into Yarmouth. They were prizes to , , , "Algerine", , , and . In October, a court martial dismissed Blow from "Algerine" after he challenged a Captain Campbell of the Marines to a duel. Brenton suggests that this  saved Blow from a serious investigation for his lack of aggressiveness in the action. However, Clowes "et al." dispute this. Admiral Sir James Saumarez had transmitted to Blow the acknowledgments of the Board of Admiralty for his skillful manoeuvres, which detached the remainder of the enemy's force, and for his exertions in facilitating the subsequent escape of himself and consort. On 19 February 1813, Blow received an appointment to the Impress service at Folkestone, where he remained until August 1813. He then resumed his naval career, reaching the rank of captain in 1842. Blow's successor was Lieutenant Daniel  Carpenter, who took command in November 1811. He sailed "Algerine" to the West Indies on 13 May 1812. On 8 February 1813, she was in an action with an American privateer that escaped, in which the British lost three men killed and seven or eight wounded. This single-ship action may have been with the American privateer "Saratoga". "Algerine" returned to port in Jamaica, while "Saratoga" went on to capture the 600-ton (bm) merchant vessel . Fate. "Algerine" escorted a convoy from Jamaica into the Atlantic via the Crooked Island Passage in the Bahamas. As she was returning to Jamaica , she was wrecked on the Little Bahama Bank on 20 May 1813 when a heavy swell pushed her off course. Although her crew had to abandon her, they and a large quantity of stores were saved and taken to New Providence. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References