HMS Hermione (1782) - Early Years

Early Years

HMS Hermione was the lead ship of a six ship class of frigates designed by Edward Hunt, termed the Hermione class. She was launched on 9 September 1782 from Teast's of Bristol, having cost £11,350.14s.4d (equal to £1,089,728.88 today) to build, with a further £4,570.2s.2d (equal to £438,754.62 today) spent on dockyard expenses, and £723.16s.9d (equal to £69,492.45 today)} on fitting out.

She was commissioned initially under Captain Thomas Lloyd, who commanded her until she was paid off in April 1783. She recommissioned that same month under Captain John Stone, who sailed her to Nova Scotia on 17 October, after which she was paid off in 1785. Hermione may have then been recommissioned under Captain William H. Ricketts during the Spanish Armament of 1790, though this is uncertain. She did however undergo a repair between October 1790 and June 1792, followed by a period spent refitting at Chatham Dockyard until January 1793. She was recommissioned in December 1792 under Captain John Hills, under whom she sailed to Jamaica on 10 March 1793.

She served in the West Indies during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars. On 4 June, Hermione, under Hill, participated in the British attack on Port-au-Prince, where she led a small squadron that accompanied the troop transports. Hermione had five men killed and six wounded in the attack. The British captured the town and its defenses, and in taking the port they also captured a large number of merchant vessels. Captain Philip Wilkinson replaced Hill at some point after the attack. Hermione was among the vessels that shared in the capture on 17 July of the Lady Walterstasse. Wilkinson was replaced in February 1797 — the year of the Spithead and Nore mutinies — by Captain Hugh Pigot.

Pigot was a cruel officer who meted out severe and arbitrary punishment on his men. During a nine-month period, as captain of his previous command HMS Success he ordered at least 85 floggings, the equivalent of half the crew; two men died from their injuries.

Hermione was sent to patrol the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Under Pigot, she destroyed three privateers at Puerto Rico on 22 March 1797. On 20 April Hermione was the lead ship in a squadron formed of the 32-gun frigates HMS Mermaid and HMS Quebec, the 14 gun brig HMS Drake, and the cutter HMS Penelope. The squadron cut out nine ships at the Battle of Jean-Rabel without suffering any casualties. On 6 September 1797 and in company with HMS Diligence and HMS Renommee she captured a Spanish 6-gun packet ship with troops on board.