On this day 3 October - the French brig Palinure captured the HMS Carnation

[7eat51]

Palinure was a Palinure-class 16-gun brig of the French Navy, built by Caudan at Lorient and launched in 1804. HMS Carnation was a Royal Navy 18-gun Cruizer class brig-sloop built by Taylor at Bideford and launched in 1807. Carnation entered service at Plymouth in 1807 under Commander Charles Mars Gregory, who sailed her to the West Indies in 1808. On 3 October, the French brig Palinure engaged Carnation 180 miles northeast of Martinique. Gregory and all his officers were killed or wounded in the opening exchanges and Palinure's crew attempted to board. Carnation's crew were mustered to resist, but a Royal Marine sergeant named John Chapman refused the order and led over 30 men below decks to await capture. The remaining crew men were outnumbered and had to surrender.

Carnation had lost 10 killed and 30 wounded, perhaps half mortally; the French lost about 15 men killed and wounded. The French then took Carnation to Marin Bay, Martinique. The French commissioned Carnation on 31 January 1809 under Ensign de vaisseau Simon-Auguste Huguet. He had distinguished himself in the engagement as Capitaine de frègate Pierre-François Jance had been debilitated by yellow fever and reportedly died within an hour of the victory after transferring to Carnation, which was the better vessel.


The first sentence of today's event is taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...linure_(1804); the remainder of today's event is taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Carnation_(1807) and

[csadn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruizer_class_brig-sloop -- some interesting quotes re the _Cruizer_ class.