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HMS ''Weymouth'' was a 44-gun fifth rate of the Royal Navy. She was previously the country ship, i.e., India-built, merchantman ''Wellesley'', built in Calcutta in 1796. She successfully defended herself against a French frigate, and made two voyages to Britain as an East Indiaman for the East India Company. The Admiralty purchased her in May 1804; she then became a storeship in 1806. On her last voyage for the Royal Navy, in 1820, she carried settlers to South Africa. She was then laid up in ordinary. In 1828 she was converted to a prison ship and sailed to Bermuda where she served as a prison hulk until 1865 when she was sold for breaking up. ==Merchantman== In late 1799 the Commissioners of the Navy engaged ''Bellona'' and ''Wellesley'' to "convey stores, &c. to the different Settlements in India, on account of Government."〔''The Times'', Wednesday, December 25, 1799; pg. 3; Issue 4675; col B Category: News.〕 ''Wellesley'' was under the command of Captain Peter Gordon on 9 August 1800 when she encountered the French 36-gun frigate ''Franchise'' off the coast of Brazil. ''Wellesley'' was carrying provisions and stores for the fleet at the Cape and India; her crew consisted mostly of lascars and Chinese. The French frigate was the sole survivor from a surprising defeat of a French squadron in the Action of 4 August 1800. Captain Pierre Jurien, of ''Franchise'', attacked ''Wellesley'', but Gordon succeeded in driving him off.〔Schomberg (1802), Vol. 3, p.483.〕 Gordon had about ninety men, including passengers. The engagement lasted about an hour and although the frigate had 12-pounder guns to ''Wellesley''s 9 and 6-pounders, the British suffered no casualties. The frigate tailed the British for some two days, but then gave up.〔Grant (1803), p. 52.〕 ''Wellesley''s insurance company presented Gordon with a sugar bowl. tray, and pair of candlesticks, all inscribed, "Presented by the Bengal Phoenix Insurance Society to Capt. P. Gordon of the Wellesley for defending that ship against a French Frigate of 36 Guns on the coast of Brazil, the 9th of August 1800".〔The Armoury of St James's: A French Revolutionary Wars Naval Engagement Presentation Bowl, 1801.() - accessed 14 November 2014.〕 That autumn, ''The Times'' reported, "The following ships arrived at the Cape, and departed from thence in September and October (1800): The Bellona, Union, Sarah, Wellesley, Cecilia, Kent, and Thetis."〔''The Times'', Wednesday, January 07, 1801; pg. 2; Issue 4997; col C Category: News.〕 In 1801 ''Wellesley'' was designated a troop transport, one of a number of country ships that took, or were to take troops to Egypt as part of a force seeking to dislodge French forces there that threatened access to India. She carried a detachment of the 80th Regiment of Foot, but after eight weeks at sea she returned to Bombay. Gordon explained that it had been impossible to make safe passage to the Red Sea.〔Bulley (2000), p.79.〕 ''Wellesley'' first appears in ''Lloyd's Register'' in the volume for 1801. Her master appears as J. Purrier, and her owner as "Lambert".〔This appears to refer to John Purrier and the firm of Lambert, Ross & Co., owned by the merchants David Ross, James Scott, and William Hollings.〕 The register describes her as trading between London and India, and being armed with twelve 9-pounder and ten 6-pounder guns.〔''Lloyd's Register'' (1801).〕 In the next few years, ''Wellesley'' made two trips from Bengal to Britain for the East India Company. The ''Lloyd's Register'' published in mid-1802 shows Gordon replacing Purrier as master. ;Voyage 1 Again under Gordon's command, ''Wellesley'' passed Saugor on 8 December 1801, on her way to Britain. She reached St Helena on 24 February 1802, and the Downs on 9 June.〔National Archives: ''Wellesley'',() - accessed 10 December 2014.〕 She traveled with a letter of marque that had been issued to Captain Gordon on 25 April 1800.〔 ;Voyage 2 Gordon sailed ''Wellesley'' for England, leaving Madras on 20 August 1803. She reached St Helena on 8 November, Ventry Harbour, Ireland, on 13 January 1804, Carrick Road on 7 February, the Downs on 24 February.〔 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 Weymouth (1804)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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