HMS Inconstant (1783)

HMS "Inconstant" was a 36-gun "Perseverance" class fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She had a successful career serving in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, capturing three French warships during the French Revolutionary naval campaigns, the "Curieux", the "Unité", and the former British ship HMS|Speedy|1782|6.cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships |pages=Chap. 5; p. 200]

Construction and commissioning

"Inconstant" was ordered on 8 December 1781 and laid down at the yards of William Barnard, Deptford, in December 1782. She was launched on 28 October 1783, and was immediately fitted out for Ordinary, a process completed by 22 March 1784. She was moved to Woolwich in October 1788 and there fitted out for sea between June and November 1790. She had cost a total of £16,226.0.1d (including the work to fit her for Ordinary, with a further £6,627 spent in 1790 to prepare her for sea.

Career

"Inconstant" was commissioned in August 1790 under Captain George Wilson. Wilson commanded her for just over a year before she was paid off in September 1791. "Inconstant" returned to Woolwich and was fitted out again between January and February 1793 at a cost of £7,239. She was recommissioned under Captain Augustus Montgomery and joined the fleet under Richard Howe. She sailed to the West Indies in April, and captured the 14-gun "Curieux" there on 3 June 1793.

"Inconstant" returned to England in July that year, sailing again in November bound for Toulon to join Samuel Hood's fleet. She was briefly commanded by Captain George Cockburn in 1794, but he was succeeded by Thomas Fremantle in January 1795. Under Fremantle, and as part of the fleet under Admiral William Hotham, she fought against the 80-gun "Ça Ira" on 10 March 1795. The "Ça Ira"’s massive superiority in firepower soon forced Fremantle to fall back. As he did so, HMS "Agamemnon", commanded by Captain Horatio Nelson, surged past to continue the fight.cite book |last=Sugden |title=Dream of Glory |pages=p. 546] This was a prelude to the Naval Battle of Genoa, fought over the next few days. On 25 March "Inconstant" recaptured HMS|Speedy|1782|6 from the French, and went on to form part of Nelson's squadron in August. On 20 April 1796 she captured the French "Unité". The "Unité" was taken into service as HMS|Surprise|1796|6. "Inconstant" was then present at the evacuation of Leghorn on 26 June 1796. After an active period in the Mediterranean, she was paid off in September 1797. She was refitted at Woolwich between March and June 1798, returning to service as a 20-gun troopship. She was commanded by Commander Milham Ponsonby until being paid off in October 1799, after which she was refitted and recommissioned as a fifth rate under Commander John Ayscough. "Inconstant" was initially operating in the North Sea, before receiving orders to move to support operations in Egypt in 1801. She came under the command of Captain Richard Byron in October 1802, but by December was under Captain Edward Dickson.

"Inconstant" was fitted out as a troopship again in late 1803, and was present at the capture of Gorée in March 1804. She was restored as a frigate between 1805 and 1806, and spent the period between 1806 and 1808 as the flagship of Vice-Admiral James Saumarez. A large repair was carried out between 1808 and 1809, after which she sailed to the Cape of Good Hope. She was paid off in 1810, and refitted at Portsmouth. She recommissioned again in October that year, under the command of Captain John Quilliam, but by December command had passed to Captain Edward Owen. Owen remained in command until 1812, being succeeded by Sir Edward Tucker. Tucker sailed "Inconstant" to South America, and in August 1815 she was serving as Captain James Lucas Yeo's flagship.

HMS "Inconstant" was finally broken up at Portsmouth in November 1817.

Notes

References

*Colledge
* Winfield, Rif, "British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates", pub Seaforth, 2007, ISBN 1-86176-295-X
*citebook|author=Sugden, John|title=Nelson - A Dream of Glory|location=London|publisher=Jonathan Cape|year=2004|isbn=0-224-06097-X