USS Hancock (1776) - As Republican French Iris

As Republican French Iris

When the Royalist French surrendered Toulon to Lord Hood in 1793 Iris was found dismantled and being used as a powder hulk. As the republicans advanced on the town, the Anglo-Spanish forces evacuated, destroying the arsenal and as many ships as they could that could not be sailed out of the port. Captain Sidney Smith took charge of a party of other British officers, and armed with a small squadron of three English and three Spanish gunboats, went into the inner harbour to scuttle the ships. Against orders, instead of sinking one of the frigates, the Spanish crew of one gunboat set her alight. The vessel, possibly the Iris, was being used to store one thousand barrels of gunpowder. The resulting explosion nearly blew up the entire party of the British gun boat Terrible, commanded by Lieutenant Patey; the boat was blown to pieces, but the men picked up alive. Another British gunboat, the Union, which was nearest to the Iris, suffered considerably; her captain, Mr Young was killed, with three men, and the vessel shaken to pieces. At least one other powder hulk, French frigate Montréal, was also destroyed in the evacuation, and Iris was recorded as being one of those burnt in the retreat.