Return To The Mediterranean
In 1809, Frederick Marryat, who would go on to became a famous author, joined Centaur as a midshipman. He continued to serve under Hood in the Mediterranean.
Capt. John Chambers White brought Hibernia to Port Mahon to be Hood's flagship. White then took command of Centaur.
Centaur participated in the defence of Tarragona when French forces under Marshal Suchet besieged the city from May 1811. Captains Codrington, White, and Adam spent most nights in their gigs carrying out operations under cover of darkness to evacuate women, children and wounded. On 21 June the French broke in. They then reportedly massacred several thousand men, women and children and took many prisoners before setting fire to the city. The boats of the squadron had only been able to rescue some five or six hundred of the inhabitants. On 28 June Centaur's launch engaged the French on a beach at Tarragona, losing two men killed and three wounded. Centaur returned to Plymouth in October 1813.
Read more about this topic: HMS Centaur (1797)
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