List of British whalers captured in the Pacific by David Porter
In February 1813 Captain David Porter sailed the USS Essex around Cape Horn and cruised the Pacific, warring on British whalers. Over the next year, Porter captured 12 whalers and 360 prisoners. On 28 March 1814 Porter was forced to surrender to Captain James Hillyar after an engagement that became known as the Battle of Valparaiso. He had to surrender to the frigate HMS Phoebe and the sloop-of-war HMS Cherub when Essex became too disabled to offer any resistance. Of the 12 ships Porter captured, only one returned to the United States; seven returned to British control, three were destroyed, and the Chilean government seized one.
| Vessel | Master | Captured | Burthen | Men | Cannons | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Obed Wyer | 29 April 1813 | 353 | 24 | 8 | Recaptured 28 March 1814 and sent as a cartel to New York. She arrived there in July, where the marshal of the district seized her. She was condemned, and sold for US$25,000 on 26 August. |
| Catharine (1809 ship) | Thomas Folger | 28 May 1813 | 270 | 29 | 8 | Her captors burnt her off Valparaiso in February 1814 |
| Charlton (1803 ship) | Sinclair Halcrow | Mid-July 1813 | 274 | 21 | 10 | Turned over to the crews and sailed back to England as a cartel |
| Georgiana (1791 ship) | W. Pitt | 23 April 1813 | 280 | 25 | 6 | Became USS Georgiana; On 28 November 1813, HMS Barrosa recaptured Georgiana and sent her into Bermuda |
| Greenwich (1800 ship) | Shuttleworth | 28 May 1813 | 338 | 25 | 10 | Her captors burnt Greenwich at Nuku Hiva |
| Hector (1809 ship) | J. Richards | 28 May 1813 | 270 | 25 | 11 | Taken into Valparaiso and burnt there on 14 February 1814 when she proved unsaleable |
| Montezuma (1804 ship) | David Baxter | 29 April 1813 | 270 | 21 | 2 | In spring 1814 the Chilean government seized her at Valparaiso, where she was laid up, and sold her, retaining the proceeds |
| New Zealander (1808 ship) | Donnemann (or George Denman, or Donneman) | Mid-July 1813 | 259 | 23 | 8 | On 21 April 1814, HMS Belvidera recaptured New Zealander on 21 April 1814 as she was one day out of arriving at New York |
| Policy (1801 ship) | J. Bowman Johnstone |
29 April 1813 | 175 | 26 | 10 | On 4 (or 11) December 1813 HMS Ramillies and Loire recaptured Policy and sent her into Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
| Rose (1806 ship) | Munro (or Mark Monroe) | 29 April 1813 | 220 | 21 | 8 | Given up to captured crews and sent for England but had to put into Lima leaky; arrived in England March 1814 |
| Seringapatam (1799 ship) | William Stavers | 13 July 1813 | 357 | 31 | 14 | USS Seringapatam; recaptured by mutineers who sailed her to Port Jackson. From there she was brought to England, where her owners reclaimed her on payment of salvage. |
| Sir Andrew Hammond (1800 ship) | William Porter | 13 September 1813 | 301 | 31 | 12 | USS Sir Andrew Hammond; HMS Cherub recaptured Sir Andrew Hammond on 12 June 1814 |
References[edit]
- James, William; Chamier, Frederick (1837). The Naval History of Great Britain: From the Declaration of War by France In 1793 to the Accession of George IV. London, UK: R. Bentley. OCLC 656581450.
- Porter, David Dixon (1875) Memoir of Commodore David Porter: Of the United States Navy. (J.Munsell)
- Porter, David (1815) Journal of a cruise made to the Pacific ocean in the United States frigate Essex: in the years 1812, 1813, and 1814, Volumes 1-2. (Bradford and Inskeep).