Donegal, 1798
Type: 2nd rate ; Armament 80
Taken : 12 Oct 1798 ; Disposal date or year : 1845
Displacement : 1901 tons (BM)
Notes:

11-12 Oct 1798 Commodore Warren's action with French squadron, and capture of the Hoche, renamed Donegal, and a number of frigates.

8 Jul 1803 with the blockading fleet off Toulon.

4 Jan 1804 sailed with the Mediterranean fleet on a cruise, arriving back at Sardinia on 27th. 1 Feb cruised on the French coast, anchoring off Cabrera on the 8th ; cruised again from the 19 Feb to 25 Mar.

3 Apr 1804 cruised off the French coast. 9 Apr provided support for the Amazon to prevent interference from French frigates from Toulon when she captured a brig. Returned to the Magdalena islands to water from 11 to 19 May.

24 May 1804 reconnoitred the French fleet in Toulon.

13 Jun 1804 a small French squadron entered Toulon.

19 Jul 1804 following the receipt of supplies from England the fleet sailed for the gulf of Palma to store ship ; returned 26 Aug.

25 Nov 1804 captured the Spanish frigate Amfitrite off Cadiz.

19 Jan 1805 whilst watering at Agincourt sound the Mediterranean fleet was informed that the Toulon fleet was at sea, and sailed in search. It was discovered on 14 Feb that the French fleet had returned to Toulon.

28 Mar 1805 victualled at Palma and on the 3 Apr sailed to water at Pulla bay, but on the 4th the Phoebe reported that the Toulon fleet was at sea again : the search began again. 10 May no longer appears to be a part of Nelson's fleet, and may have remained in the Mediterranean when he sailed for the West Indies.

17 Oct 1805 detached to Gibraltar to get a ground tier of casks.

24 Oct 1805 Donegal, arriving from Gibraltar, captured the Rayo, which subsequently sank with some loss amongst the crew and her prize crew from the Donegal.

Circa 23 Dec 1805 the squadron under V.-adm Duckworth, having lifted the blockade of Cadiz, was between Madeira / Canary isles, where it was reported a French Squadron had molested one and chased another convoy. The French squadron was sighted on 25 Dec and chased, but after 30 hours was discontinued and the squadron sailed for the West Indies.

12 Jan 1806 arrived Barbadoes. 14th sailed for St. Christopher to water. 21 Jan joined by the Northumberland and Atlas. 1 Feb Kingfisher joined with intelligence that a French squadron had been seen steering for Santo-Domingo. 3rd was joined by the Epervier off Saint-Thomas. 5th Magicienne joined confirming the intelligence. 6 Feb a French Squadron was sighted leaving Santo-Domingo. the action of Santo-Domingo Roads commenced ; 2 French ships (Impérial and Diomède) run ashore and 3 (Alexandre, Jupiter, Brave) taken ; the wash-up ; the casualties ; more wash-up.

29 Jan 1808 off Rochefort with R.-adm. Sir R. J. Strachan's squadron, being leaky and short of provisions, was ordered to proceed to England.

23 Feb 1809 Amethyst observes M. Willaumez's French squadron abreast of the Tour de Baleine and signalled Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron, consisting of the Cæsar, Defiance, and Donegal, who went in chase of the French, and watched them entering Basque road on the 24th and despatched the frigate Naïad to inform Lord Gambia.

24 Feb 1809 Naïad observed 3 suspicious sail coming down from the northward and signalled Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron accordingly : leaving the Amethyst and Emerald to watch Basque road, the squadron sailed in search of the approaching vessels.

24 Feb 1809 Amelia and Dotterel in chase of a French frigate squadron, who on sighting Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron steered for the Sable d'Olonne where they came to anchor. Following a heavy bombardment the French ships were driven on shore and were subsequently wrecked.

24 Feb 1809 later that day Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron returned to his station off the Chasseron lighthouse, and observed the squadron of M. Willaumez at anchor in Basque roads, and was joined on the 25th by Captain Beresford and his three ships, with his force thus augmented to seven sail of the line and five frigates, resumed the blockade of the port, with the Hero joining shortly afterwards.

7 Mar 1809 Admiral Lord Gambier relieved Rear-admiral Stopford's in command of the blockade of Basque Roads.

17 Mar 1809 anchored in Basque roads. 11 Apr the use of fire ships, explosion-vessels, and Congreve rockets against the French fleet at Basque roads and the results thereof.

Portsmouth 5 Jan 1810 Sailed for a cruise off Cherbourg.

Portsmouth 10 Jan 1810 Sailed for a cruise off Cherbourg.

Portsmouth 12 Jan 1810 Put back from a cruize off Cherbourg.

6 Nov 1810 captured the French privateer Surcouf.

12 Nov-23 Dec 1810 Diana, Niobe, cruising off the port of Havre, sighted and chased two French frigates, which anchored in the road of Lahougue, under the protection of strong batteries. With the assistance of the 74 gun ships Donegal and Revenge, from Cherbourg, attempts were made to sink the two frigates, one of which, the Amazone, was to escape into Havre, whilst the other, the Eliza, went ashore, and was eventually destroyed by the boats of the Diana.

Portsmouth 20 Jan 1811 Sailed for a cruise of Cherbourg.

Falmouth 1 Feb 1811 Arrived from a cruise off Cherbourg.

Portsmouth 5 Feb 1811 Weighed.

Portsmouth 7 Feb 1811 Arrived from off Cherbourg.

Portsmouth 2 Sep 1813 Sailed for Chatham and with a convoy for the river.

Jul 1830 At Sheerness.

Portsmouth 8 Jun 1831 At Spithead.

Deal 2 Jul 1832 Is expected to sail to-morrow on a cruise in the North Sea.

Plymouth 16 Jul 1832 Arrived from the Downs.

Cork 30 Jul 1832 sailed on a cruise with the Orestes.

Cork 16 Aug 1832 In the Cove of Cork, refitting after sailing trials.

Plymouth 23 Aug 1832 Off port.

Plymouth 30 Aug 1832 Arrived from Torbay.

Portsmouth 19 Sep 1832 Arrived from Cork.

Portsmouth 29 Oct 1832 Has gone out to Spithead.

End of 1832, a part of a squadron of vessels involved in the blockade of the ports of Holland, which was defying the great Powers with regard to the Belgian question. See p. 270-1 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

Deal 12 Nov 1832 In the Downs.

Deal 16 Nov 1832 Anchored, and then weighed and sailed to the eastward.

Deal 28 Nov 1832 Arrived from a cruise in the North Sea.

Downs 31 Dec 1832 Detained the Pauline, Dutch merchant-man, from Demerara for Middleburg.

Downs 15 Jan 1833 Remains.

Downs 24 Jan 1833 Remains.

Downs 14 Feb 1833 Remains.

Deal 13 Mar 1833 Sailed for the North Sea on a cruise.

Downs 21 Mar 1833 Sailed for Sheerness to refit.

Downs 16 May 1833 Sailed for a cruise.

25 May 1833 went to the aid of the Serpent, which went ashore in thick fog on the South Foreland, and was got off with no serious damage.

Portsmouth 31 May 1833 Arrived Spithead from the Downs.

Portsmouth 4 Jun 1833 Sailed for Plymouth.

Plymouth 6 Jun 1833 arrived from Portsmouth.

Plymouth 8 Jun 1833 Sailed for Lisbon.

Portsmouth 20 Jul 1833 is reported to be in the Tagus.

1 Jan 1834 On the Lisbon Station.

Lisbon 14 Apr 1834 In the Tagus.

Portsmouth 13 Jun 1834 Arrived at St. Helen's, and came up to Spithead, where she remains.

Plymouth 26 Jun 1834 Arrived from Spithead and towed into harbour to be paid off.

Plymouth 2 Jan 1836 it is rumoured that she is to be prepared for sea service. [This would appear to be just a rumour.]

Plymouth 16 Sep 1837 is reported to be recruiting here, and preparing to receive the flag of Sir John Ommanney.

1 - 28 Feb 1838 In the Tagus. 18 Feb 1839 Lisbon, the Portugues subjects taken on the slaver Diligente by the Electra off the coast of Brazil, with 302 slaves on board, are still prisoners on board.

4 Mar 1839 Lisbon, the Portugues seamen taken on the slaver Diligente have been landed as agreed by the Foreign Office.

4 Jul 1839 based in the Tagus for the duration of the civil war ashore.

2 Nov 1839 Lieutenant James A. Gordon, appointed to the Donegal.

18 May 1840 at Lisbon

15 Jun 1840 at Lisbon.

6 Jul 1840 at Lisbon.

27 Jul 1840 at Lisbon.

5 Sep 1840 peace having broken out a flag-officer and line of battle ship are no longer required in the Tagus and the Donegal is due to sail at the end of August for Plymouth. The brig Espoir will remain at Lisbon.

11 Sep 1840 has arrived at Plymouth from the Tagus.

15 Sep 1840 arrived Tuesday at Spithead from Lisbon and Plymouth.

18 Sep 1840 was towed into harbour by the steamers Echo and Monarch, the latter hired from Southampton. The Donegal's ship's company is to be turned over to the Britannia, 120 guns, and to have a portion of their wages paid to them at once, and the balance on her leaving England for the Mediterranean.

19 Sep 1840 From Donegal to Britannia.- Captain John Drake; Com-mander George W. Lydaird ; Lieutenants Peter Duthy, J. M. Langtry, Frederick Cannon, George Bett, Edward Little, James A. Gordon ; Master James Underwood, acting Chap-lain, Rev. J. N. Campbell ; Surgeon John Tam ; Naval In-structor, F. C. Halsted ; Mates, Henry Bernard, W. H. Lowe, John H. Cranq, W. G. L. Cunningham, George T. Paterson, Edwin Hinde, R. W. Clarke, Robert C. Tatnull ; Assistant- Surgeons, J. Campbell, W. H. Bent ; Boatswain, Thomas Bowier ; Clerk, W. Miller ; Additional Clerk, John Barrett ; Midshipmen James A. Dunbar, C.F. Coventry, E.A. Porcher, Volunteers, 1st Class, C. Kent, Thomas Andrews.

3 Oct 1840 Portsmouth, Donegal has been paid off and will be used as a hulk (as an accommodation ship) for the Queen, whilst she is being fitted out.

31 Oct 1840, Portsmouth, The crew of the Queen moved on board Thursday last.