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HMS ''Levant'' was a 20-gun ''Cyrus''-class sixth rate of the Royal Navy built by William Courtney, of Chester. She was one of five British warships that captured or destroyed during the War of 1812. She was soon recaptured, and after 1817 was reclassified as a sloop of war. She was broken up in 1820. ==Career== ''Levant'' was one of 16 ships of the ''Cyrus'' class that were constructed after the French prize ''Bonne Citoyenne''. ''Levant'' was launched in December 1813. Her first commander was Captain Alexander Jones who was replaced by George Douglas on 28 April 1814. Under Douglas, ''Levant'' travelled from England to Quebec and then to Gibraltar. While escorting two British convoys together with , a ''Banterer''-class sixth rate vessel, the two warships were attacked by USS ''Constitution'' under Captain Charles Stewart on 20 February 1815. Although peace had already been declared ''Constitution'' had not received official information about the Treaty of Ghent. ''Cyane'' and ''Levant'' were able to fire heavier broadsides than ''Constitution'' but were still outgunned by range and gun power by the American vessel. With excellent seamanship ''Constitution'' outmanoeuvred both ships and forced ''Cyane'' to surrender first. After placing a prize crew on board ''Cyane'', Stewart chased ''Levant'' down. The sloop surrendered after two broadsides fired by the American vessel and was also taken a prize. With the help of the British prisoners all three ships set course for the Cape Verde Islands. A British squadron under Commodore George Collier eventually sighted ''Constitution'' in heavy weather off Porto Praya on 11 March 1815. She was proceeding with her two prizes. Due to the weather and some confusion, ''Constitution'' eluded the British. Fire from led ''Levant''s crew to run her ashore, where then captured her.〔Gossett (1986), p.95.〕 Collier eventually left ''Acasta'' and windward of Barbados while he searched for ''Constitution''. However, she had returned to port, thus avoiding an engagement. Because Portugal was unable to maintain its neutrality on its (former) soil the Portuguese government compensated the United States for the loss of ''Levant''. Captain John Sheridan commanded ''Levant'' from June 1815 until she was laid up in Chatham in November that year. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMS Levant (1813)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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