HMS Pickle, 1780
£20.00
10 Guns Schooner, 1780.
The ship thst brought the news of victory at Trafalgar to Britain – and the news of Nelson’s death.
In stock
Description
10 Gun Schooner, 1780
HMS Pickle, built in Bermuda, was first named Sting. After the “Quasi-War” between France and the US ended in 1880 some French privateers remained active in the region. The RN and the USN jointly sought to stop them. Vice-Admiral Seymour, C-in-C Jamaica Station, purchased Sting, an excellent sailer as part of this campaign. The Admiralty ordered her name changed to Pickle. In the French Revolutionary War, she jointly took 4 French prizes before carrying the body of Seymour home in 1801. As with most RN ships by this time, she was copper-bottomed to discourage marine growth and weed causing drag, so Pickle was faster than many other ships. Under the command of Lieutenant John Lapenotière she attended the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805. Too small to take part in the fighting, she rescued sailors and was then detached by Admiral Collingwood (who assumed command on Nelson’s death) to bring news of Nelson’s victory (and death) to England. The route he took from Falmouth to the Old Admiralty building on Horse Guards Parade in London is known as The Trafalgar Way. He arrived on 6th November. This famous journey gave rise to the tradition of “Pickle Night”: an annual celebration traditionally enjoyed by Petty Officers (NCO‘s) commemorating that journey and what it represented to a nation threatened with invasion. The tradition continues to this day. Pickle participated in a notable single-ship action when she captured the French privateer, Favorite, in 1807 under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Calloway. Pickle was wrecked on 26 July 1808 on the Chipiola Shoal a few miles north of Cadiz, but without loss of life.
Additional information
| Weight | 0.0223 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 44 × 35.5 cm |
