Naval Database

Active, 1799
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 38
Taken : 1799 ; Disposal date or year : 1860
BM : 1058 tons
Notes:

1799 The replacement of long-guns by carronades meant that the Active, originally designed as a 38 gun frigate, was to be armed with additional carronades, making a total of 46 guns, thus making a nonsense of the current rating system.

1801 Captured Spanish vessel "Santa Maria"

8 Mar to 2 Sep 1801 Services off the coast of Egypt.

8 Jul 1803 with the blockading fleet off Toulon.

9 Apr 1804 while Amazon took possession of a prize-brig in-shore, Donegal and Active provided support to prevent interference from French frigates from Toulon.

6 Jan 1805 detached from the Mediterranean fleet to watch the port of Toulon.18th-19th Active and Seahorse watched the French fleet depart Toulon whilst the Mediterranean fleet was watering at Agincourt sound and rejoined the Fleet with the news. It was discovered on 14 Feb that the French fleet had returned to Toulon.

31 Mar 1805 Active and Phoebe detached to watch the French fleet depart Toulon whilst the Mediterranean fleet was victualled at Palma.

4 Apr 1805 Phoebe reported that the Toulon fleet was at sea again : the search began again. 4 May, having heard that the Toulon fleet had passed through the Straits on 8 Apl, the fleet anchored at Mazari bay to water and provision, but following a change in the wind the fleet sailed on 5 May, the Superb leaving her cargo of cattle and vegetables etc. on the beach. Having provisioned for 5 months on the 10th rendez-voused on 12th at Cape St.-Vincent with a convoy of troops from England and detached the Royal-Sovereign to the convoy, following which Nelson sailed for Madeira and the West Indies.

15 May 1805 arrived Madeira : and Barbadoes 4 Jun with news that the French fleet was in the West Indies : was joined by the Spartiate : 13th arrived Antigua and sailed for Europe.

17 Jul 1805 arrived off Cape St.-Vincent and sailed for Gibraltar, and having watered etc. proceeded west and north. 15 Aug received news from Adm. Cornwallis off Ushant, before Victory and Superb sailed for Spithead.

By 2 Jan 1807 Active and Nautilus had joined the squadron under R.-adm. Sir T. Louis in Azire bay, at the western end of the Dardanells. 4th the Russian ambassador received from the Canopus and sailed to Malta, arriving 31 Jan. 1 Feb V.-adm Sir J. T. Duckworth despatched the Active to Sir Thomas Louis, off the island of Tenedos, where she arrived on the 6th, to apprize him of the intended junction of Sir John and Sir Thomas' squadrons.

11 Feb-3 Mar 1807 With Sir John Duckworth on what some have described as his somewhat less than successful expedition to Constantinople. 14th anchored off Cape Janizary, ships' boats used to rescue men from the burning Ajax. 19th steered for Constantinople. 2 Mar returned to the Mediterranean.

23 Feb 1808 the Porcupine, off Corfu, observed the arrival of a French Squadron under M. Ganteaume. The following day she fell in with the Active, and until the 13 Mar, both vessels watched the movements of the French.

28 Jun 1810 Amphion, Active and Cerberus, having chased a convoy into the harbour of Groa, sent in the ships' boats, who either destroyed or brought out the ships of the convoy.

29 Sep 1810 Amphion and Active chased off Ancona by a French squadron.

9-24 Oct 1810 the Cerberus having joined the Amphion and Active on the 9th at Lissa, and the Acorn on the 12th, the squadron, went in search of the French, but had returned to Ancona.

4 Feb 1811 Cerberus and Active, whilst cruising off the north-east coast of Italy, sent the ship's boats into the port of Pescaro to cut out a number of vessels.

12 Feb 1811 Cerberus and Active, whilst cruising off the north-east coast of Italy, sent the ship's boats into the harbour of Ortona to cut out a number of vessels.

13 Mar 1811 action between the frigates Amphion, Cerberus, Active, and ship Volage, off Lissa, with a larger French frigate squadron in which the Favorite was accidentally run ashore and 2 frigates captured ; the Corona was added to the navy by the name of Daedalus and the Bellona, as the troop-ship Dover.

27 Jul 1811 off the town of Ragosniza, despatched the ship's boats to capture or destroy a convoy anchored in a creek, of which 10 vessels were burnt and 18, including 3 gun-boats, were brought out.

28 Nov 1811 leaving the ship Acorn to assist in the defence of the port, the frigates Alceste, Active, and Unité sailed from Lissa in pursuit of a French frigate squadron, and following a chase captured the Pomone and the Persanne, laden with military stores etc.

Deal Aug 7 1814 Arrived in 28 days from Madeira.

30 Sep 1817 came into Portsmouth harbour on Tuesday, to be paid off, having serving recently in the West Indies and on the Coast of Mexico.

Portsmouth Oct. 11 1817 was paid off on Thursday and her crew discharged. Fourteen of her Midshipmen were passed at the RN College, on the previous day, for the rank of Lieutenant, eleven of whom were under 15 years of age.

3 Jan 1820 Capt. James Alexander Gordon, KCB, arrived at Portsmouth on Sunday, from Halifax, which she left on 5th Dec.; having touched on a rock in the Gulf of Canso she is to be taken into dock to be examined. The Active has made use of a new anchor, the invention of Mr. Kingston, of Plymouth dock-yard, with an hollow shank, and its superior properties to the common anchor are well spoken of.

Portsmouth Sep 13 1820 Ordered to proceed to Brighton to wait on the King, but the wind failing, she remained here.

Portsmouth Sep 14 1820 New orders issued for her and other vessels to proceed to Lisbon where it is reported that there may be some threat to life and property of British residents.

9 Oct 1821 To be fitted out to take the Earl of Chatham and suite to Gibraltar.

27 Nov 1821 At Portsmouth.

7 Jan 1822 Lieutenants Thomas Ogle, C.J. H. Johnstone, Hon. R. S. Dundas, have been appointed to the Active

7 Jan 1822 Captain Andrew King, has been appointed to the Active

1 Mar 1824 Plymouth Reported to have sailed on Tuesday to protect the British trade in the Gut of Gibraltar (Captain A. King).

1826 Harbour Service

1830 Plymouth

Nov 1833 Renamed Argo.

20 Dec 1848 Receiving Ship, Devonport