HMS Ganges (1782) - French Revolutionary Wars

French Revolutionary Wars

In 1794, whilst under the command of Captain William Truscott, she captured the French 24-gun corvette Jacobin. The Ganges was part of the squadron commanded by Admiral John Gell, which escorted a Spanish ship they had captured from the French back to Portsmouth. The ownership of the ship was a matter of some debate and was not settled until 4 February 1795, when the value of the cargo was put at £935,000. At this time all the crew, captains, officers and admirals received a share of the prize money, Admiral Hood taking away £50,000. Besides Ganges, the ships that conveyed the Spanish prize to Portsmouth were St George, Egmont, Edgar and Phaeton.

Ganges shared in the prize money from the capture of the French supply ship Marsouin by Beaulieu on 11 March 1796.

Ganges was under the command of Captain Thomas Fremantle at the Battle of Copenhagen. She had on board a contingent of soldiers from the 49th Foot, commanded by Isaac Brock. Their mission was to storm the forts at Copenhagen, but the outcome of the naval battle made such an assault unnecessary.