Dolphin HMS (Byron)

[shipstamps]

Byron, John (1723-86) British admiral, known as "Foul Weather Jack" on account of his unlucky exp¬eriences at sea, was the grand¬father of Lord Byron, the poet. As a midshipman in the WAGER during Commodore Anson's voyage round the world (1740-44) he was wrecked off the coast of Chile in 1740, returning home six years later after incredible hardships. In 1764, as captain of the DOLPHIN, he made a rapid but fruitless circumnavigation of the globe in search of Terra Australis Incognita the mythical southern continent in the Pacific. In 1779, now promoted vice-admiral, he was sent in command of a fleet to relieve British forces in North America during the War of American Independence (1775-82). After experiencing a most destructive gale on the passage out, he fought an indecisive action against the French Admiral d'Estaing off Grenada and was thus unable to provide the support for which his fleet was intended. He returned to England where ill health prevented him from serving again at sea.

St Helena SG498. Falk Is SG511. Gilbert Is SG51. Jersey SG304/5. Kiribati SG526. St Helena SG498 768. Tokelau SG22 Wallis and Fortuna SG195 222.
Log Book Dec 2004

[john sefton]

As built: 113ft, 93ft4in x 32ft1in x 11ft.
Ord: 26.9.1747. K: 3.8.1748. (named 6.12.1748) L: 1.5.1751. C: 29.7.1752. First cost:£8,545.0.6 to build, plus £3,327.12.2d fitting.
Commissioned June,1752 under Capt. Richard Howe; sailed for the Mediterranean Oct.1752.
In 1755 under Capt. Carr Scrope, in the Mediterranean.
In 1756 under Cmdr. (Capt. 6.1756) Benjamin Marlow (-1761); at Battle of Minorca 20.5.1756; in Home waters 1757; sank (with Hussar) 50-gun L'Alcyon en flute in night action 25.11.1757; took 12-gun Le Marquis de Barrail of Dunkirk 1757; in action (with Solebay) against Commodore Francois Thurot's 44-gun Le Marechal de Belleisle in the Channel 27.5.1758; cruising and convoys to North America 1761.
In May.1761 under Capt. Robert Keeler; took 10-gun Le Mars; took (with Diana) 4-gun La Dunkerquoise; took packet Le Duc d'Aiguillon 1763, then paid off. Surveyed 1.3.1763; Middling Repair, bottom coppered and fitted at Woolwich for circumnavigation voyages to the Pacific (for £7,975.14.0). Mar-June 1764.
Recommissioned 1764 under Capt.John Byron; sailed for the Pacific 3.7.1764. In 1766 under Capt. Patrick Mouat; paid off 6.1766. Re-sheathed with copper and refitted at Deptford (for £5,946.13.8d) June-July.1766. Recommissioned June.1766 under Capt. Samuel Wallis; sailed for the Pacific 21.8.1766; paid off 6.1768. Copper taken off, surveyed 25.7.1768 and 12.12.1769; Middling Repair, coppered and fitted at Deptford (for £6,938.18.4d) Sept.1769 –June.1770. Recommissioned April.1770 under Capt. Digby Dent; sailed for the East Indies 5 Aug.1780. In 1772 under Capt. Henry Lloyd, in the East Indies, then June.1772 Capt. Gideon Johnstone and 1775 Capt. Sir ?John Clarke (died 11.1775). In Nov.1775 under Cmdr. (Capt. 2.1776) James Pigot; paid off Sept.1776. Surveyed Dec.1776; BU completed at Woolwich.

British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 Rif Winfield.

[aukepalmhof]

French Polynesia 2015 190F sg?, scott?