View source for HMS Latona (1781)

{{short description|Sailing frigate of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Latona}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2018}}
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|Ship image=HMS Latona (1781) Romney Hyde Parker (cropped).jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Latona'' - Detail from a 1781 painting of [[Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet|Sir Hyde Parker]] by [[George Romney (painter)|George Romney]]
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=Great Britain
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|Ship name=HMS ''Latona''
|Ship ordered=22 March 1779
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|Ship builder=Edward Greaves's yard at Limehouse
|Ship laid down=October 1779
|Ship launched=13 March 1781
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|Ship commissioned=March 1781
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|Ship honours=[[Naval General Service Medal (1847)|Naval General Service Medal]] with clasp "Curacoa 1 Jany. 1807"<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=20939|page=241|date=26 January 1849}}</ref>
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate= 1813 hulked. 1816 sold.
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|Ship tons burthen=944 {{small|{{frac|20|94}}}} ([[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]])
|Ship length={{convert|141|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship complement=270 (raised to 280 on 25 April 1780)
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|Ship armament=* UD: 28 × [[18-pounder long gun|18-pounder guns]]
* [[Quarterdeck|QD]]: 8 × 6-pounder guns + 4 × 18-pounder [[carronade]]s
* [[Forecastle|Fc]]: 2 × 6-pounder guns + 4 × 18-pounder carronades
* Also 14 [[Swivel gun|swivels]]
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'''HMS ''Latona''''' was a 36-gun, [[fifth-rate]] frigate of the [[Royal Navy]] that served during the [[American Revolutionary War]], the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], and the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Shortly after her launch in 1781, she participated in the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1781)|Battle of Dogger Bank]] against a Dutch squadron in the [[North Sea]]. In September 1782, ''Latona'' took part in the [[relief of Gibraltar]] and was the first ship in the convoy to pass through the [[Strait of Gibraltar|Straits]], when [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe]] sent her ahead, to spy on the condition of the Franco-Spanish fleet in [[Algeciras Bay]].

Late in 1792, when the British began re-arming in anticipation of another war with France, ''Latona'' underwent a refit and was recommissioned for the [[Channel Fleet]]. On 18 November 1793, she spotted, chased and engaged a squadron of six ships-of-the-line and some smaller vessels. She was unable to detain the enemy ships for long and they escaped before the rest of the British fleet could catch up. Still with Howe's fleet in May 1794, ''Latona'' and her compatriots were waiting for a large grain convoy bound for France from the United States. The British eventually found what they were looking for off [[Ushant]] on 28 May, and began a running battle which ended three days later on the [[Glorious First of June]]. ''Latona'' escaped serious damage despite being actively involved in the battle, coming to the assistance of the [[ship-of-the-line]] {{HMS|Bellerophon|1786|6}} and firing on two French [[Seventy-four (ship)|74s]] before towing her to safety.

''Latona'' operated with a British squadron in the [[Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland]] during August 1799, and was present at the [[Vlieter Incident]], when a Dutch squadron surrendered without resistance. She subsequently served in the [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]] before being decommissioned and [[laid up in ordinary]], shortly after the [[Treaty of Amiens]]. Hostilities resumed in May 1803, but ''Latona'' was not brought back into service until the end of 1804. In April 1806, she was sent to the [[West Indies]] and was part of a small squadron of four frigates that captured [[Curaçao]], on 1 January 1807. Sailing into the harbour second, behind {{HMS|Arethusa|1781|6}}, she helped the British frigate capture the 36-gun [[HMS Halstarr (1807)|''Kenau Hasselar'']] before putting men ashore to storm the town and its defences.

When the 40-gun {{HMS|Junon|1809|2}} escaped a [[naval blockade|blockade]] of the [[Îles des Saintes]] in [[Action of 10 February 1809|February 1809]], she was pursued by ''Latona'', a second frigate and two [[brig]]s. As the French frigate engaged the 14-gun {{HMS|Superieure|1803|6}}, ''Latona'' caught up and forced her to strike. A [[Troude's expedition to the Caribbean|French expedition to the Caribbean]] under [[Amable Troude]] in April also found itself trapped when it stopped at the Îles des Saintes. When the islands were captured by a force under [[Major-general (United Kingdom)#British Army usage|Major-General]] [[Frederick Maitland]], the French squadron was forced to flee. ''Latona'', the ship-of-the-line {{HMS|Pompee|1793|6}} and the frigate {{HMS|Castor|1785|6}} went after the 74-gun {{ship|French ship|D'Hautpoul|1807|2}} which struck two days later, when more British ships appeared on the horizon. 
''Latona'' was converted to a troopship in May 1810 then [[hulked]] in 1813. In October that year, she began service as a [[receiving ship]] at [[Leith]], then in December, she was recommissioned as a warship and used as the [[flagship]] of [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] Sir [[William Johnstone Hope]]. She was sold in 1816.

==Design==
''Latona'' was a 36-gun frigate designed by the senior surveyor [[John Williams (naval architect)|John Williams]] and ordered on 22 March 1779. Her [[keel#structural keels|keel]], of {{convert|116|ft|10|in|1}} was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at [[Limehouse]] in November 1782 by the shipwright company, Greaves and Purnell. When finished, she was {{convert|141|ft|3|in|1}} along the [[gun deck]], had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|38|ft|11+3/4|in|m|1}} and a depth in the hold of {{convert|13|ft|6|in|m|1}}. She was 944<small>{{fraction|20|94}}</small> [[Builder's Old Measurement|tons burthen]] and drew between {{convert|10|ft|1+1/2|in|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|13|ft|11+1/2|in|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Win1>Winfield (2007) p. 207</ref>

The frigate was initially designed to carry a [[main battery]] of twenty-eight {{convert|18|pdr|adj=on}} guns, with a [[secondary armament]] of ten {{convert|6|pdr|adj=on}} guns on the upperworks. On 30 September the armament was increased by the addition of ten 18-pounder [[carronade]]s, although only eight were fitted, and fourteen {{convert|1/2|pdr|adj=on}} [[swivel gun]]s. Then on 25 April 1780, it was decided to upgrade the six-pound long guns with {{convert|9|pdr|adj=off}}.<ref name=Win1/>

In this era it was common for each surveyor to produce independent designs for new ship types, and this design was a counterpoint to Edward Hunt's {{HMS|Minerva|1780|6}}; together the two draughts represent the prototype of the thirty-eight gun, 18-pounder armed frigate.<ref name=Win1/>

''Latona'' was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 13 March 1781 and taken down the [[Thames]] to [[Deptford Dock|Deptford]] where she was [[fitted-out]] and [[coppered]] between 15 March and 21 April. ''Latona''{{'}}s build and first fitting cost the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] [[Pound sterling#Pre-decimal|£]]22,470.3.5d.<ref name=Win1/>
[[File:LATONA 1781 RMG J5440.jpg|1000px|thumb|centre|Admiralty drawing of ''Latona'', 1781]]

==Early service==
''Latona'' was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in March 1781, and in the August following, she participated in the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1781)|Battle of Dogger Bank]] under the command of [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Hyde Parker (Royal Navy officer, born 1739)|Hyde Parker]].<ref name=Win1/> His father, [[Vice admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] [[Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet]], commanded the fleet at the battle. [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] had declared war on the [[Dutch Republic]] in December 1780, following the latter's refusal to cease trading with [[United States Declaration of Independence|emerging United States]]. Since then, the British had been blockading the Dutch coast while protecting its own merchant shipping. ''Latona'' was one of the escorts accompanying a convoy of ships from the Baltic on 5 August.<ref>Clowes (Vol.III) p. 505</ref> At 04:00, a Dutch fleet was seen. Admiral Hyde Parker immediately dispatched his convoy toward the English coast, and ordered a [[general chase]].<ref name=CloIII-506>Clowes (Vol.III) p. 506</ref> The Dutch [[admiral]], [[Johan Zoutman]], chose to keep his convoy under his [[Windward and leeward|lee]]. After a bloody battle with casualties high on both sides, the Dutch returned to Texel, whence they came.<ref name=CloIII-508>Clowes (Vol.III) p. 508</ref>

[[File:Escadre de Richard Howe en vue de Gibraltar 1782.jpg|thumb|left|''Relief of Gibraltar by Earl Howe, 11 October 1782'', by [[Richard Paton]]]]
After November 1781, ''Latona'' was in the [[English Channel]] under Lord Hugh Conway, and on 25 April 1782 she captured a [[privateer]], ''Bernardin''.<ref name=Win1/>
''Latona'' was part of [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe's]] fleet in the summer of 1782 and took part in the [[relief of Gibraltar]] in September.<ref name=CloIII-540>Clowes (Vol.III) p. 540</ref> The supply ships left England on 11 September, escorted by Howe's 34 [[ships-of-the-line]]. While rounding [[Cape St Vincent]], on 8 October, ''Latona'' was dispatched to report on the condition of the Franco-Spanish fleet in the bay of [[Algeciras]]. It was known that this force of about 48 ships-of-the-line was poised to attack [[Gibraltar]] and, even if no attack was forthcoming, would pose a significant obstacle to Howe's relief mission.<ref name=CloIII-540/> She returned two days later with news that an attack had already taken place and had been beaten off.<ref name=CloIII-541>Clowes (Vol.III) p. 541</ref> The convoy entered the straits, and successfully delivered the vital supplies, food, and ammunition to the besieged, between 16 and 18 October. The large combined French and Spanish fleet, which had been blown off station, appeared on 19 October but was lured away by Howe's fleet the following day.<ref>Clowes (Vol.III) pp. 541 - 542</ref> The faster British ships, never intending to give battle, were easily able to withdraw after a [[Battle of Cape Spartel|short engagement]].<ref name=CloIII-542>Clowes (Vol.III) p. 542</ref>

''Latona'' [[paid off]] in April 1783 but was recommissioned the following month under Thomas Boston and, in November, she sailed for the [[Leeward Islands]]. Command passed successively to Charles Sandys in May 1784 then [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] [[Velters Cornewall Berkeley]] in March 1786. The latter held the position until the ship paid off once again, in October.<ref name=Win1/> ''Latona'' was laid up for some time before, in November 1788, work began at Woolwich to make her ready for sea once more. £15,978.0.0d was spent on extensive repairs and a refit. She was recommissioned in May 1790 by [[Sir Albemarle Bertie, 1st Baronet|Albemarle Bertie]] but by the end of the year, she had been removed from service.<ref name=Win1/>

Late in 1792, anticipating that it would soon be forced to enter the [[French Revolutionary War|war in Europe]], Britain began military preparations.<ref>Fremont-Barnes p. 27</ref> In December, ''Latona'' was recommissioned under [[Edward Thornbrough]] and following a £12,644.0.0d refit, began service in The Channel in January 1793. She captured a French privateer, ''Amerique'', in March and two more in May; ''Franklin'' and ''Ambitieux'' of ten guns apiece.<ref name=Win1/>

==French Revolutionary Wars==
In July 1793, ''Latona'' was attached to Richard Howe's [[Channel fleet]].<ref name=JV-57>James (Vol.V) p. 57</ref> Howe's 22 ships-of-the-line and accompanying frigates were returning from a cruise in the [[Bay of Biscay]] on 18 November, when ''Latona'' signalled the presence of enemy ships in [[Cancale]] Bay. They turned out to be a French squadron of six ships-of-the-line, two [[frigate]]s and two smaller craft out of [[Brest, France|Brest]].<ref name=CloIV-201>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 201</ref> Mistaking the British for a convoy they were expecting, the French ships began to sail towards their foe but soon realised their error and fled. Using his frigates to keep the enemy in sight, Howe set off in pursuit, but only ''Latona'' got close enough to engage. Coming up on the rearmost ships in the afternoon, she was eventually driven off when two French ships-of-the-line joined the action. In an attempt to catch up, some off the British ships were carrying too much sail; causing their topmasts to break. The chase was therefore abandoned. Although the French squadron was seen again on 19 November, bad weather prevented Howe staying in touch and the French were soon lost from sight.<ref name=CloIV-202>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 202</ref> A few days later, on 27 November, ''Latona'' was in a squadron under the command of Captain Thomas Pasley of the 74-gun {{HMS|Bellerophon|1786|6}}, which captured the 28-gun privateer, {{ship|French corvette|Blonde|1781|2}} off [[Ushant]].<ref>Fonds Marine p. 56</ref>{{efn|At the time of her capture ''Blonde'' was armed with 28 guns and had a crew of 210 men under the command of Citizen Gueria.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=7 December 1793|issue=13601|page=1100}}</ref> A subsequent prize-money notice listed the vessels that shared in the proceeds as ''Bellerophon'', {{HMS|Vanguard|1787|2}}, {{HMS|Phoenix|1783|2}}, ''Latona'', and {{HMS|Phaeton|1782|2}}.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=16 September 1794|issue=13704|page=946}}</ref> Some sources, such as; ''Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours'' by Jean-Michel Roche, the ''British Warships in the Age of Sail'' series by Rif Winfield and ''La Marine de Louis XVI: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 À 1792'' by Alain Demerliac, attribute the capture of ''Blonde'' to ''Latona'' and ''Phaeton'' alone.<ref>Roche p. 77</ref><ref>Demerliac p. 40</ref><ref name=Win1/>}}

[[File:Pocock Glorious First of June1.jpg|thumb|''HMS Defence at the Battle of the Glorious 1st June 1794'' by [[Nicholas Pocock]]]]
Still with the Channel fleet in May 1794, ''Latona'' and her compatriots were waiting for a large grain convoy bound for France from the United States.<ref name=CloIV-215>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 215</ref> Howe's fleet arrived off Ushant on 5 May and the frigates ''Latona'' and ''Phaeton'' were tasked with circumnavigating the island and looking in the [[Roadstead of Brest|Brest roads]] for the French fleet. When they returned to report the French were still in port, Howe set off to try and intercept the convoy before it could gain the protection of the Brest fleet. After almost two weeks spent searching the shipping lanes and finding nothing, the British fleet returned and on 19 May, ''Phaeton'' and ''Latona'' were again dispatched to monitor the roads.<ref name=CloIV-216>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 216</ref>

After finding the anchorage empty, the two frigates stopped an American vessel and learnt from the crew that the French fleet had sailed three days earlier. On the same day (19 May), the frigate {{HMS|Venus|1758|6}} joined Howes' fleet with news that a British squadron, under [[George Montagu (Royal Navy officer)|George Montagu]], desperately needed reinforcements.<ref name=CloIV-217>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 217</ref> The next day, after ''Latona'' and ''Phaeton''{{'}}s return, Howes' fleet set off to rendezvous with Montagu and on the morning of 21 May, encountered a former Dutch convoy, taken by the French two days previous. Howe's ships managed to recapture about half, but unable to spare the men, Howe had his prizes burned. Realising now that the French fleet was nearby and that Montagu was safe, Howe abandoned his previous plan and set off in pursuit.<ref name=CloIV-218>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 218</ref>

The British found their quarry on 28 May, some {{convert|400|nmi|km|-2}} west of Ushant, and engaged in a running battle, culminating on [[Glorious First of June|1 June 1794]].<ref>Clowes (Vol.IV) pp. 222 - 227</ref> And, although seven French ships were captured or sunk without the British losing any, the vital grain convoy arrived in France without significant loss.<ref name=CloIV-228>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 228</ref> The killed and wounded among the British fleet amounted to 2,048. Casualties from the six French prizes alone were upwards of 1,200 and it is estimated that among the French fleet, 7,000 men were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.<ref name=CloIV-228/> ''Latona'' did not lose any of her crew despite being actively involved in the battle when, at 08:45 she came to the assistance of ''Bellerophon'', firing on two French 74s before towing her to safety.<ref>Clowes (Vol.IV) pp. 229 - 230</ref>

There was a change of command and duty for ''Latona'' in September, when under [[Arthur Kaye Legge|Arthur Legge]], she was part of a royal escort for Princess [[Caroline of Brunswick]].<ref name=Win1/>

Then a few days later, on 3 December, ''Latona'' captured the French brig ''Intrepide'' {{convert|40|league|lk=in}} west-north-west of [[Lisbon]]. She was pierced for 18 guns but carried twelve 6-pounders, an 18-pounder carronade, and a brass 12-pounder gun. During the chase she threw all her guns overboard except for the 12-pounder and one 6-pounder, both of which she used as stern chasers, firing, but without effect, until ''Latona'' was almost alongside. She had a crew of 83 men aboard, under the command of M. Jean Candeau. On her cruise she had captured only one vessel, a [[galliot]] belonging to [[Bremen]], which had been sailing from [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]] to [[Liverpool]] with a cargo of fruit.<ref name=LG14077/>

[[John Bligh (Royal Navy officer)|John Bligh]] assumed command in May 1797 when ''Latona'' served as [[flagship]] to Admiral [[William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock|William Waldegrave]]. At the end of the month, she set sail for [[Newfoundland]], where the Admiral was to serve as the newly appointed governor. In November [[Frank Sotheron]] became ''Latona''{{'}}s captain and on 29 November was off Portugal when she captured the French [[Bordeaux]]-based privateer [[schooner]] ''Aigle'' about {{convert|107|league}} north by west from Lisbon. ''Aigle'' had sailed from near [[Bayonne]], on 6 November, but had captured nothing. She was pierced for 14 guns but carried only 12 small carriage guns, and had a crew of 62 men under the command of Francis Harimendy.<ref name=LG14077>{{London Gazette|date=26 December 1797|issue=14077|page=1231}}</ref>
''Latona'' returned to England in February 1798 but was brought back to the West Indies in April and remained on that station for much of the remaining year. Sometime in late 1778 she fired a broadside into American merchantman "Aurora", her captain later claim the broadside wasn't ordered.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v02p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 2 Part 1 of 3 Naval Operations November 1798 to March 1799 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |accessdate=14 March 2024}}</ref> In December, she was back home once more.<ref name=Win1/>

===War of the Second Coalition===
[[File:Texel, 1799 RCIN 735079.jpg|thumb|right|Surrender of the Dutch squadron on 30 August in the Vlieter, by [[Robert Dodd (artist)|Robert Dodd]].]]
Between 8 March 1799 and 12 May, ''Latona'' captured many small Dutch vessels.<ref name=LG16580-432/>{{efn|Prize money was paid in November 1811. A first-class share was worth [[£sd|£]]7 7[[shilling|s]] 8[[pence|d]]; a fifth-class share, that of a seaman, was worth 5d.<ref name=LG16580-432>{{London Gazette|date=3 March 1812|issue=16580|page=432}}</ref>}} ''Latona'' operated with a British squadron in the [[Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland]] during August 1799 which resulted in the surrender of a Dutch squadron in the [[Vlieter Incident|Vlieter roads]].<ref name=CloIV-409>Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 409</ref> A combined fleet under [[Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan|Admiral Lord Duncan]], comprising eight ships-of-the-line, three [[fourth rate]]s and six frigates, one of which was ''Latona'', arrived off [[Texel]] on 22 August. With it, were more than 230 other craft, carrying supplies and 27,000 troops.<ref>Clowes (Vol.IV) pp. 408 - 409</ref> After failing to persuade the Dutch to hand over their ships, the troops were landed near [[Den Helder|Helder]] on the morning of 27 August. After an engagement with a Franco-Dutch force, the city was captured. At the same time, a single British frigate, {{HMS|Circe|1785|6}}, entered the Nieuwe Diep and captured the ships there which were [[laid up in ordinary]]. Among them were 13 warships carrying a total of 510 guns, and of these, four small frigates and a 44-gun vessel were added to the Royal Navy.<ref name=CloIV-409/> Two days later, a British squadron under Vice-Admiral [[Andrew Mitchell (Royal Navy officer)|Andrew Mitchell]] entered the Vlieter roads where a Dutch squadron under Vice-Admiral [[Samuel Story]] was anchored. ''Latona'' and two other frigates [[Ship grounding|grounded]] in the narrow [[Channel (geography)#Nautical channels|channel]], but all managed to get off and join their compatriots in line opposite the Dutch, who accepted an offer to surrender and handed over their ships.<ref>Clowes (Vol.IV) pp. 409 - 410</ref>

''Latona'' was operating on the Lisbon station towards the end of the year, where she captured two privateers: the 12-gun ''Aigle'' on 29 November, and the 14-gun ''Intrepide'' on 3 December.<ref>Winfield (2007) pp.207 - 208</ref> In 1800, she was reassigned to the [[North Sea]] where in April, off [[Flamborough]], she took the 14-gun privateer ''Virginie''. Following a spell in the [[Baltic Sea]], early in 1801, ''Latona'' was at [[Deptford Dockyard|Deptford]] in October before joining the Channel Fleet in 1802. This was another short-lived appointment: ''Latona'' returned to the Baltic and was stationed off [[St Petersburg]] from August to October. She then sailed back to England and paid off.<ref name=Win2>Winfield (2007) p. 208</ref>

==Napoleonic Wars==
Having been laid up in ordinary since October 1802, ''Latona'' required substantial repair before returning to service. The work was undertaken at Deptford between April and October 1804; after which she was taken into the Channel, by [[Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin]], who had taken command in August.<ref name=Win2/> ''Latona'' captured the Spanish [[ketch]] '' Amphion'', armed with 12 guns and 70 men, at sea on 22 October 1805.

In April 1806, ''Latona'' was under Captain [[James Athol Wood|James Wood]], and in June, she had her carronades upgraded to {{convert|32|pdr|adj=off}}. She was then sent to [[Jamaica]] where, later in the year, she was part of a small squadron sent by [[James Richard Dacres (1749–1810)|James Dacres]], to ascertain the willingness of the population of [[Curaçao]] to enter into an alliance.<ref name=CloV236>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 236</ref><ref name=Win2/> ''Latona'' with the [[razee]] {{HMS|Anson|1781|6}} and the frigate {{HMS|Arethusa|1781|6}}, left [[Port Royal]] on 29 November with orders to enlist the 38-gun {{HMS|Fisgard|1797|6}}, then somewhere at sea. The three vessels, under the command of [[Charles Brisbane]] in ''Arethusa'', arrived in [[Aruba]] on 22 December, having been held back by unfavourable winds and tides, and were joined the following day by ''Fisgard''.<ref name=CloV237>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 237</ref>

[[File:Capture of Curacoa (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The capture of Curaçao, depicted by [[Thomas Whitcombe]]]]
The expedition left on 24 December and arrived off Curaçao on 1 January 1807. The island was heavily defended by a chain of fortifications along the high ground, that also overlooked the harbour. Fort Amsterdam, had 60 guns guarding the entrance, and inside, the guns of a second large fort, Fort Republick, covered the entire anchorage. With such a small force at his disposal, Brisbane thought a peaceful solution unlikely and, in order that he might begin negotiations from a position of strength, sailed his ships straight into the harbour.<ref name=CloV237>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 237</ref>

''Arethusa'' led under a [[flag of truce]], which the Dutch ignored, ''Latona'' second, followed by ''Anson'' and ''Fisgard'', the latter grounding after a shift of wind. At 06:15, the British still coming under heavy fire, the flag of truce was taken down and an action started on the ships in the harbour. ''Arethusa'' fired three broadsides into the 36-gun frigate, [[HMS Halstarr (1807)|''Kenau Hasselar'']], before Brisbane led a boarding party. Shortly after, ''Latona'' drew alongside and the Dutch ship was taken. In the meantime, men from ''Anson'' boarded and captured the 22-gun [[French corvette Hussard (1799)|''Suriname'']].<ref name=CloV238>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 238</ref> Two schooners were also seized in the battle.<ref name=LG16003>{{London Gazette|issue=16003|pages=241–243|date=22 February 1807}}</ref>

Sailors from all four British frigates went ashore at 07:30, storming Fort Amsterdam, which was successfully overcome in about ten minutes, before taking the town and its citadel. After which, at 09:30, they returned to their ships and, after half an hour, had pounded Fort Republik into submission. By noon, the whole island had capitulated.<ref name=CloV238/> ''Latona'' lost one man killed and two wounded; in all, the British lost three killed and 14 wounded. The Dutch lost nearly 200 men. On the ships alone, six men were killed, including Commandant Cornelius J. Evertz, who commanded the Dutch naval force in Curaçao and seven wounded, of whom one died later.<ref name=LG16003>{{London Gazette|issue=16003|pages=241–243|date=22 February 1807}}</ref><ref name=CloV238/> ''Latona''{{'}}s captain, Wood, was knighted for his part in the action, as was Brisbane. The [[Patriotic Fund]] gave each of the four captains a gold medal and a gift; Wood received a vase valued at £105.0.0d. Several promotions were given to the lesser officers and in 1849, the Admiralty awarded the [[Naval General Service Medal (1847)|Naval General Service Medal]] with clasp "Curacoa 1 Jany. 1807" to surviving claimants.<ref>Long p. 48</ref><ref name=CloV238/><ref name=LG20939-241>{{London Gazette |date=26 January 1849 |issue=20939 |page=241}}</ref> {{efn|On 3 December 1808, the [[London Gazette]] reported a disputed claim for prize money from a fifth vessel, {{HMS|Morne Fortunee|1806|2}}. Neither the original reports nor the accounts of [[William James (naval historian)|William James]] and [[William Laird Clowes]] acknowledge this ship as being at the capture of Curaçao.<ref name=LG16003>{{London Gazette|issue=16003|pages=241–243|date=22 February 1807}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|date=3 December 1808|issue=16206|page=1648}}</ref> By 1849, when the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal, ''Morne Fortunee'' was listed together with the four frigates.<ref name=LG20939-241/> 65 medals were given out.}}

''Latona'' was part of the squadron under Admiral Sir [[Alexander Cochrane]] that [[Invasion of the Danish West Indies (1807)|captured the Danish islands]] of [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St Thomas]] on 22 December and [[Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|Santa Cruz]] on 25 December 1807. The Danes did not resist and the invasion was bloodless.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=20 February 1816|issue=17112|page=337}}</ref>

Under the command of [[Hugh Pigot (Royal Navy officer, born 1775)|Hugh Pigot]], ''Latona'' was at the [[action of 10 February 1809]], where she was involved in the capture of the French 40-gun frigate {{HMS|Junon|1809|2}}.<ref>James (Vol.V) pp. 150–152</ref> On 7 February, ''Junon'' escaped from a British [[blockade]] of the [[Îles des Saintes]]. She was seen and chased by two small brigs, one of which soon fell behind but the other, {{HMS|Superieure|1803|6}} of 14-guns, kept her in sight and was joined on the 9th by ''Latona''; the crew of which had been alerted by the sound of gunfire. The next day, ''Junon'' was still some way ahead of her pursuers when two more British ships, the 38-gun {{HMS|Horatio|1807|6}} and the 18-gun {{HMS|Driver|1796|6}}, appeared and caused her to alter her course.<ref>Clowes (Vol.V) pp. 431 - 432</ref> Seeing ''Latona'' steering to cut her off, ''Junon'' turned back towards ''Horatio'', passing her on the opposite tack and exchanging fire. A short engagement followed in which both frigates were greatly damaged but ''Junon'', less so in the sails and rigging, was able to leave ''Horatio'' behind. She was then attacked by ''Superiere'' until ''Latona'' caught up and opened fire. ''Junon''{{'}}s main and mizzen mast fell and she struck.<ref>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 432</ref>

In April 1809, a [[Troude's expedition to the Caribbean|French squadron]] under [[Amable Troude]], comprising three 74s and two armed-[[storeship]]s, arrived at the Îles des Saintes. There they were blockaded until 14 April, when a British force under [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Frederick Maitland]] and Captain [[Philip Beaver]] in {{HMS|Acasta|1797|2}}, invaded and captured the islands.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=16262|pages=779–782|date=30 May 1809}}</ref> ''Latona'' was among the naval vessels that shared in the proceeds of the capture of the islands.{{efn|The prize agent for a number of the vessels involved, Henry Abbott, went bankrupt. In May 1835 there was a final payment of a dividend from his estate. A first-class share was worth 10s {{frac|2|3|4}}d; a sixth-class share, that of an ordinary seaman, was worth 1d. Seventh-class (landsmen) and eighth-class (boys) shares were fractions of a penny, too small to pay.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=3 April 1835|issue=19255|page=643}}</ref>}} The French squadron was obliged to quit its position, after the British established a battery on the mountain overlooking the anchorage.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=16262|page=779|date=30 May 1809}}</ref><ref name=CloV-435/> Despite leaving under cover of darkness, Troude's ships were noticed by the 18-gun {{HMS|Hazard|1794|6}}, which immediately alerted the rest of the blockading force.<ref name=CloV-435>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 435</ref> At 22:00, two hours later, two British vessels, {{HMS|Pompee|1793|6}} of 74 guns and the 18-gun {{HMS|Recruit|1806|2}}, came close enough to open fire on {{ship|French ship|D'Hautpoul|1807|2}}, the rearmost French ship. Soon after, {{HMS|Neptune|1797|6}} joined the attack but none of the shots, all fired from distance, did any damage and the French began to draw away.<ref name=CloV-436>Clowes (Vol.V) p. 436</ref> Only ''Recruit'' stayed in touch, harrying her quarry throughout the night and following day until ''Pompee'' rejoined the action on the evening of the 15th and caused the three French 74s to scatter. ''Pompee'' continued her pursuit of ''D'Hautpoul'' and was joined by ''Latona'' and the 32-gun {{HMS|Castor|1785|6}} the next day. On 17 April, further British ships appeared and at 17:15 ''D'Hautpoul'' struck. The other two French 74s managed to escape to [[Cherbourg]], having been chased by ''Recruit'' and ''Neptune'' when the squadron dispersed on 15 April.<ref name=CloV-436/>

''D'Hautpoul'' was taken into the Royal Navy as HMS ''Abercromby''. The French had had 80&ndash;90 men killed or wounded during the action, the British had 10 killed and 35 wounded. The majority of the British casualties occurred on ''Pompee''.<ref name=CloV-436/> The two French storeships, {{HMS|Furieuse|1809|2}} and {{ship|French frigate|Félicité|1785|2}}, left the Îles des Saintes on 15 April, the day after Troude's line-of-battle ships. They made it to Gaudeloupe unmolested but when they left on 14 June, they were pursued by ''Latona'' and the 16-gun sloop, {{HMS|Cherub|1806|6}}. ''Félicité'' succumbed to ''Latona'' after a four-day chase; ''Furieuse'' managed to out-sail ''Cherub'' but was eventually taken by {{HMS|Bonne Citoyenne|1796|2}} on 6 July.<ref name=CloV-436/><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=16293|page=1384|date=29 August 1809}}</ref>

==Later service and fate==
In May 1810, work began at [[Woolwich Dockyard|Woolwich]] to convert ''Latona'' to a [[troopship]]. The alterations took until July, during which time she had her armament reduced to a main battery of fourteen {{convert|9|pdr|adj=on}} guns, with two {{convert|6|pdr}} on the [[forecastle]], and six {{convert|18|pdr|adj=on}} carronades on the [[quarterdeck]]. She served in this capacity until 1813, first under [[Charles Sotheby (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Sotheby]] on the Lisbon station, then from April 1812, under Edward Rodney.<ref name=Win4>Winfield (2008) p. 139</ref> She was then placed in ordinary at [[Sheerness]]. In July 1813, she was briefly recommissioned by Mathew Buckle, and re-established with an armament of sixteen {{convert|24|pdr|adj=on}} carronades, before being fitted as a [[receiving ship]] for service at [[Leith]]. In December 1813, ''Latona'' was recommissioned as a warship by Andrew Smith, as the flagship of Admiral Sir [[William Johnstone Hope]]; an appointment she held until she was sold in May 1816 for £2,550.0.0d<ref name=Win4/>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==Citations==
{{reflist}}
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last = Clowes|first = William Laird|year = 1996|orig-year= 1900|title = The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume III|publisher = Chatham Publishing|location = London|isbn = 1-86176-012-4}}
*{{cite book|last = Clowes|first = William Laird|year = 1997|orig-year= 1900|title = The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV|publisher = Chatham Publishing|location = London|isbn = 1-86176-013-2}}
*{{cite book|last = Clowes|first = William Laird|year = 1997|orig-year= 1900|title = The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume V|publisher = Chatham Publishing|location = London|isbn = 1-86176-014-0}}
* {{cite book|title=La Marine de Louis XVI: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 À 1792|last=Demerliac|first=Alain|year=2004|publisher=Éditions Ancre|isbn=2-906381-23-3|language=fr}}
* Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations; divisions et stations navales; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome premier : BB4 1 à 209 (1790–1804)
*{{cite book|last = Fremont-Barnes|first = Gregory|year = 2013|title = The French Revolutionary Wars|publisher = Routledge|location = Oxford|isbn = 9781135977344}}    
*Gardner, Robert, ''The Heavy Frigate'', Conway Maritime Press, London 1994.
*{{cite book |last = James |first = William |year = 2002 |orig-year= 1827 |title = The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume V, 1808–1811 |publisher = Conway Maritime Press |location = London |isbn = 0-85177-909-3 }}
*{{cite book |last = Long |first = William H. |year = 1895 |title = Medals of the British navy and how they were won : with a list of those officers, who for their gallant conduct were granted honorary swords and plate by the Committee of the Patriotic Fund|url = https://archive.org/details/medalsbritishna00longgoog |publisher = Norie and Wilson|location = London}}
*{{cite book|first=Jean-Michel|last=Roche|year=2005|title=Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours|isbn=978-2-9525917-0-6|publisher=Group Retozel-Maury Millau|volume=1|language=fr}}
*{{cite book |first1=Rif |last1=Winfield |title=[[British Warships in the Age of Sail]] 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84415-700-6 }} 
*{{cite book |first=Rif|last=Winfield|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|publisher=Seaforth|location=London|year=2008|isbn=978-1-86176-246-7}} 
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|HMS Latona (ship, 1781)|HMS Latona (1781)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Latona (1781)}}
[[Category:Frigates of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:1781 ships]]