HMS Bienfaisant (1758)

France

He participated in the Seven Years War . Captured by the British on July 28, 1758 during the siege of Louisburg . Bienfaisant and Prudent (74) were the last French ships still remaining in the harbor. Admiral Boscaven ordered a raid. Prudent sat tightly aground, but the sabotage party with HMS Aetna , led by Commander George Balfour, successfully captured and stole Bienfaisant . The next day, the fortress surrendered.

UK

Taken to a British service called HMS Bienfaisant .

1762 - Captain Balfour, Mediterranean Sea , in the squadron of Sir Charles Saunders. Was there until 1765 .

He participated in the American Revolutionary War .

1777 - Captain John McBride , until the beginning of 1781 he continued to serve in his waters.

1778 - was at the island of Wessan , in a white (admiral) squadron.

At the end of 1779, he received orders to go to Gibraltar with Admiral Rodney to supply this fortress. On the way, they met a Spanish squadron and convoy in the area of ​​Cape Finisterre and took Guipuscoana (64). Both the convoy and all the armed ships were captured.

Later, Bienfaisant participated in the battle in the midst of a storm , in which he and the opposing ship completely detached from their own. After two or three hits, the mainsail - the enemy’s flag collapsed overboard, but the British were surprised to see no return fire. The response was answered: "that the admiral does not intend to fight anymore." Bienfaisant ordered them to lower the flag and sent a boat; Don Francis Melgaris arrived with her, the captain, from whom they learned that the enemy was Fenix , with 80 guns and 700 people. Don Francisco Langar, the commander in chief, holding his flag on it, was wounded. The weather was getting worse and Captain McBride was forced to drift all day and night. When the weather cleared, the boats could pass again, but having smallpox on board the Bienfaisant and not wanting to infect the enemy, he made the admiral Langar an offer that was accepted:

Bienfaisant , at sea. January 18, 1780.

Since there is malignant smallpox aboard the ship of His Majesty Bienfaisant , the feeling of the British officer does not allow him to infect even the enemy. In light of this consideration, and the very brave defense shown by Admiral Langar and his officers, Captain McBride agrees that neither the officers nor the team will be removed from the Phoenix captured by the ships of His British Majesty Defense and Bienfaisant , and Admiral Langar is responsible for the conduct his people and officers, and in the event of a meeting with any Spanish or French warship, he will not interfere with Lieutenant Thomas Luis, his officer, in the management and protection of the ship to the last extreme, according to his orders, and if he meets with superior the ship will be repulsed by ambitious forces, and Bienfaisant will be able to break through, Admiral Langara, his team and officers should consider themselves prisoners of war Captain McBride, on their honest word (which, he is sure, is sacred to the Spanish officer). Likewise, if the Bienfaisant is taken, and Phoenix avoids this, then Admiral Langar, his officers, etc., will no longer be captured, but will be released immediately. In short, they follow the fate of the Bienfaisant .

signatures:
John McBride
Juan de Langara

Original text

Bienfaisant, at Sea. January 18th. 1780. The small pox being on board his majesty's ship Bienfaisant, of a malignant kind, the feelings of a British officer cannot allow him to introduce an infection even among his enemies. From this consideration, and the very gallant defense made by admiral Langara and his officers, captain Macbride consents, that neither officers nor men shall be removed from the Phoenix, taken by his Britannic majesty's ships Defense and Bienfaisant, admiral Langara being responsible for the conduct of his officers and men; and in case we fall in with any Spanish or French ships of war, he will not suffer lieutenant Thomas Louis, his officer, to be interrupted in conducting and defending the ship to the last extremity, agreeable to his orders; and if meeting with superior force the ship should be retaken, and the Bienfaisant fight her way clear, admiral Langara his officers and men, are to hold themselves prisoners of war to captain Macbride, upon their parole of honor (which he is confident with Spanish officers is ever sacred). Likewise, if the Bienfaisant should be taken, and the Phoenix escape, then admiral Langara, his officers & C. will no longer be prisoners, but freed immediately. In short, they follow the fate of the Bienfaisant.

SIGNED

JOHN MACBRIDE

JUAN DE LANGARA

Captain McBride was sent home with the news, but due to adverse winds, unfortunately, he did not reach England until a few days after Captain Edward Thompson arrived with a copy.

When the fleet came to England in March, Captain McBride returned to the command of the Bienfaisant and was sent to the St. George Canal in search of a large private French ship, with 64 guns. He found it at Cape Old Head in Kinsale at dawn on August 13th . After a battle lasting an hour and ten minutes, during which the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt at boarding , Count d'Artois surrendered. The enemy had 21 killed and 35 wounded, while the Bienfaisant lost 3 people killed and 22 wounded. Charon (44) entered the battle in the end, and on it one man was slightly injured.

In December, the Bienfaisant discovered and captured two Dutch privatists , 24 cannons each.

At 10 o’clock in the morning I saw them yesterday, and they went towards us very confidently. About two hours I started a battle with both, but I paid attention only to one that was on our sink until we properly trimmed it, and then moved forward and started the battle with another, which was fired from the nose. About thirty minutes later he surrendered, we sent a boat to him to take possession of him, and turned the fordewind after another, who left, but also surrendered according to our approach. They turned out to be Hercules and Mars , two privatiers from Amsterdam, who had twenty-four nine-pound guns and ten unicorns each; brand new; they go as sharp as Artois and are better equipped than all the privates I have ever seen; cost over 20,000 livres; they are commanded by two Hogenbom, father and son, from Vlissingen.

My father was well known in the last war, nicknamed Hard Apple; drove the schooner privatir, with a French patent, from Vlissingen, and made a lot of trouble for our trade; they sent him specially to command the privatier. They left Texel on November 30th, and took one of our fishing smokey.

Hercules must have had one hundred and sixty-four people; fourteen were killed and twenty wounded. Mars one hundred forty-six people, nine were killed and fifteen injured. We had one man killed and six injured.

Original text

At ten o'clock yesterday morning saw them, they stood for us with much confidence. About two o'clock I brought them both to action, but paid attention only to the one on our quarter till we had effectually winged her; then pushed forward and closed the other, which was engaged on our bow. In about thirty minutes she struck; we sent a boat on board to take possession, and wore round after the other, who was making off, but who also struck on our coming up. They proved to be the Hercules and Mars, two privateers from Amsterdam, mounting twenty-four nine pounders and ten cohorns each; are perfectly new; sail as high as the Artois and are the compleatest privateers I ever saw; they cost upwards of 20,000 L, commanded by two Hogenbooms, father and son, inhabitants of Flushing.

The father was well known in the last war by the nickname Hardapple; he had a schooner privateer, with a French commission, out of Flushing, and did much mischief to our trade; he was sent for on purpose to command these privateers. They sailed from the Texel on the 30th. November, and had taken one of our fishing smacks.

The Hercules had one hundred and sixty-four men on board; fourteen were killed and twenty wounded. The Mars one hundred and forty-six men; nine were killed and fifteen wounded. We had one man killed and six wounded. ^[2]

At the end of 1780, Captain McBride switched to HMS Artois (44).

1781 - Captain Richard Brathwaite . Sir Hyde Parker raised his flag to the HMS Fortitude , as the commander of the Baltic Convoy Guard Squadron of 700 merchants departing Leith . Returning with a return convoy, Sir Hyde Parker, with 7 battleships, including the Bienfaisant , and 6 frigates , at Dogger Banks encountered the Dutch squadron of Admiral Zutman , who had the same number of ships and also escorted the convoy. In this battle, Bienfaisant lost 6 people killed and 21 wounded, including a gunner.

1782 - Captain J. Howorth ( English J. Howorth ), repair in Plymouth , assigned to English waters. In October, I was at Cape Spartel .

1794 - Lieutenant E. Collingwood ( English E. Collingwood ); floating prison in Plymouth.

1803 - in reserve in Plymouth.

1805 - Lieutenant Robert Brown.

1808 - Lieutenant William Boyce.

Dismantled in 1814 . ^[one]

Ships of the old navy