Built in 1788 as a ship-of-the-line on the Astilleros de El Esteiro at Ferrol, Spain for the Spanish Navy, after a design of Romero Landa.
Named SAN TELMO, six sisterships the PAULA, EUROPA, MONARCA, CONQUISTADOR, PELAYO and INTREPIDO.
Tonnage 1.640 tons, displacement 2.850 ton. Dim. 52.8 x 14.5m.
Armament: 28 – 24pdrs., 30 – 18pds., 16 – 8 pdrs. guns.
Crew around 510 men, under which 150 mariners.
She took not part in the Battle of Trafalgar.
1810 Fought against the French corsairs in the Mediterranean.
When the Spanish possessions in South America were threatened by the independent movements in 1819, Spain send a naval force of four ships to strengthened the Spanish forces in Callao, Peru.
11 May 1819 SAN TELMO, PRUEBA and MARIANA sailed from Cadiz, the SAN TELMO under command of Capt. Joaquin Toledo only the ALEXANDER sailed one day later. The South Sea squadron was under command of Brigadier Rosendo Porlier on board the SAN TELMO.
ALEXANDER joined the squadron but after passing the line she had to return to Spain for repair due to much leaking.
The other three ships sailed on, and after calling Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo she sailed south.
First the three ships sailed together but then she got adversary winds when nearing the south, and the weather worsened.
The last time the SAN TELMO was seen by the MARIANA was on 02 September 1819 in a position approx. 62 South 70 West. The SAN TELMO did at that time have problems with her rudder, her stem and yards
Noting afterwards was heard of seen of the SAN TELMO and she must have been lost around this time with all hands under which Capt. Toledo and the commander of the squadron Brigadier Porlier and her crew and troops of 644 men.
Most probably she was shipwrecked on the north of Livingston Island one of the South Shetland Islands.
A cairn was later erected on Half Moon Beach, Livingston Island to commemorating the officers, soldiers and seamen of the SAN TELMO.
The stamps are designed after a painting made by Lieutenant Alejo Berlinguero de la Marca y Gallego (1759- 1810). The painting is in the possession of the Spanish Navy Museum in Madrid.
The painting depicts the SAN TELMO when coming to anchor her foretopsail backed to let go the second anchor.
Paraguay 1987 Gs3 sg?,, scott 2231c. Spain 1995 30p sg MS 3321, scott 2811.
Source: http://foros.monografias.com/showthread.php?t=29420 http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Naufragios/ ... SOS-02.htm
Trafalgar and the Spanish Navy by John D Harbron.