Naval Database

Gladiator, 1785
Type: 4th rate ; Armament 44
Launched : 1785 ; Disposal date or year : 1817
Notes:

16 Jan 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Lieutenant Harford of the Arethusa for striking and throwing a cup of tea in the fact of Mr. Ayscough, the third Lieutenant for which he was sentenced to be dismissed the service despite members of the board furnishing excellent references. It is thought that the Admiralty may well reduce the sentence ?

21 Jan 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on the Carpenter of the St. Fiorenzo for drunkenness and neglect of duty. The charges being proven he was dismissed his ship.

25 Jan 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Captain Totty, of the Saturn, for running on board the Prince. He was acquitted, the accident being caused by the darkness of the night and other causes.

8 Feb 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator at Portsmouth on a seaman, Richard Pierrepoint, belonging to the Barfleur for desertion, who was found guilty and was sentenced to 100 lashes and to forfeit all his pay.

8 Feb 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator at Portsmouth on a seaman, John Gray, belonging to the Syren for desertion, who was found guilty and was sentenced to 100 lashes and to forfeit all his pay.

28 Feb 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator at Portsmouth on Mr. Joseph Collingwood, Gunner of the Amazon, for drunkenness. The charge being proved he was sentenced to be dismissed his ship, and recommended by the court to serve on board a sloop of war, [thus reducing his income].

28 Feb 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator at Portsmouth on Mr. William Dimock Smith, Boatswain of the sloop Fairy, for drunkenness, neglect of duty and behaving in a contemptuous manner to his captain. The charge being proved and he was sentenced by the court to be rendered incapable of serving again as an officer in the RN, and to serve before the mast on board such other of HM ships as the Commander in Chief at Spithead shall direct.

13 Mar 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Lieutenant John Cresselman of the Druid, for absence without leave, at various times, and drunkenness. The charges were proved in part, sufficient for him to be dismissed the service.

5 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on John Warner, a seaman of the Delft, for having cut down the hammock of James Lyon, a private in the 13th regiment, who subsequently died from the injuries he sustained. Warner was acquitted as he thought the hammock was empty and there was no malicious intent.

5 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on Mr. John Hopgood, Boatswain of the Mercury, for absenting himself without leave. Having been found guilty he was sentenced to be dismissed from his present post and to serve in the Navy as the Lords of the Admiralty shall direct.

12 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on John Smith, Cook, of the Brilliant for having uttered seditious expressions in the presence of the Gunner, Mr. William Bold. Found guilty and was sentenced to be dismissed from his office on the Brilliant and to serve 12 months in the Marshalsea Prison.

12 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on William Bold, Gunner, of the Brilliant for failing to report the seditious expressions uttered by the Cook, John Smith. Was acquitted.

12 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on Mr. Joseph Trevenor, Boatswain, of the Maidstone, for drunkenness and neglect of duty. He was found guilty and dismissed his ship, and incapable of serving as an officer in HM Navy.

12 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on William Howell, Corporal of Marines, of the Prince, for quitting his station in the dockyard and taking with him a marine, Barnard Ward. Howell was found guilty and sentenced to receive 100 lashes on board of, or alongside such ships as the Commander in Chief may direct.

18 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on John Briscow, a marine of the Diadem, for writing a letter to General Averne and causing others to sign it, in order to create a disturbance on board. He was found guilty and sentenced to receive 200 lashes around the fleet and to six months in Marshalsea prison.

28 Apr 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator on an unnamed marine of the Prince, for striking Serjeant Burt of the Marines. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to 200 lashes around the fleet at Portsmouth and Spithead.

2 May 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on a seaman, John M'Kenny, of the Castor, for striking the Boatswain's Mate. As the charge was not proven he was acquitted.

24 May 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on Mr. P. Stone, Boatswain of the Discovery, for drunkenness and behaving in a contemptuous manner to his superiors. Mr. Stone was found guilty and sentenced to be dismissed the service and rendered incapable of serving again.

31 May 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on John Weldon, a seaman belonging to the Pomone, for striking Lieutenant C. C. Skelton, whilst ashore in the execution of his duty on the 24 May. Sonce the charge was not proved the prisoner was acquitted.

31 May 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on John Goodman, a marine serving on the Trusty, for robbery, desertion and quitting his post when sentinel. On being found guilty he was sentenced to death.

31 May 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Thomas Hilton, a seaman, also serving on the Trusty, for assisting John Goodman in taking away a ship's boat, and for robbery and desertion. On being found guilty he was sentenced to 500 lashes and to forfeit all his pay.

24 Jun 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, at Portsmouth harbour, on Mr. William O'Kelly, the surgeon of the gun vessel Sparkler. Lieutenant Walker, the commanding officers stated he behaved in a mutinous, riotous and disorderly manner : disobeying orders, and striking Mr.Allen, the Clerk etc. The charges being proved in part, Mr. O'Kelly was sentenced to two years in Marshalsea Prison, and to forfeit his pay.

25 Jun 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on seamen John White and John Furlong, of the Pomone. On being found guilty they were sentenced to 200 lashes each, through the fleet, and to forfeit all their pay.

26 Jun 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, which was adjourned until Saturday 28th on Captain Alms, his officers and the men, for the loss of the Repulse on the coast of France. The court was of the opinion that the First Lieutenant, Mr. Rothery, and the Master, Mr. Finn, had disobeyed the Captain's orders and they were sentenced to be dismissed the service, whilst Captain Alms, his other officers and the men were honourably acquitted.

1 Jul 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Mr. John Shea, Purser of the Beaver, for having disposed of provisions entrusted to him contrary to instructions and made a false entry in the ship's books and having, on a number of occasions, treated his captain with insolence, contempt and disrespect, and for being absent without leave. The charges were proved in part and Mr. Shea was reprimanded and admonished to be more circumspect in the future.

2 Jul 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on William Walker, commanding officer of the Sparkler, on numerous charges of having answered for men at musters who had deserted, having shortened the ship's provisions and drawn the balance on shore for his own use ; and sent salt herrings on board without vegetables, and much else besides. The charges being proved in part Lieutenant Walker was dismissed HM Service.

3 Jul 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on John Duncan, late seaman belonging to the Hermione, for having murdered the officers of that ship, or aiding and abetting thereof in Sep 1797, and then carrying the ship to the enemy at La Guira. The charges being proven the court directed that John Duncan should be hung.

23 Sep 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Lieutenant Pacy of the Beaver, for disobedience of orders and was found guilty and dismissed his ship and placed at the bottom of the Lieutenant's List.

15 Oct 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Thomas M'Cartey, a seaman belonging to the Melpomene, for desertion. The sentence being proved he was sentenced to be hanged. There appears to be a bit of history behind the reason for such a severe sentence : this was the third time of his desertion after receiving each time the bounty for entering into the service : in addition he lied when entering the service, giving incorrect information regarding his place of birth, religion and former service. He is the first seaman to be condemned to death for desertion during the present war, but there have been 300 instances of desertion at Portsmouth in the previous 5 months and it was considered that in view of the effect desertion was having on the manning of ships an example should be set.

15 Oct 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Joseph Wright, alias Marr, a seaman from the Otter, for desertion and taking a ship's boat. He was found guilty and was sentenced to receive 200 lashes, and to forfeit all his pay.

15 Oct 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on James Keeting, a Royal Marine, of the Terrible, on charges of disobedience and striking a serjeant ; he was found guilty and sentenced to 200 lashes.

29 Nov 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, of Mr. William Matthew, Gunner of the Serpent, for drunkenness, for which he was found guilty and was to be publicly reprimanded.

10 Dec 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, of John Hubbard and George Hynes, seamen from the St. George, for an unnatural crime, for which they were found guilty and sentenced to death.

10 Dec 1800 a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on Jeremiah Croning, a seaman from the Ramilies, for insolent and contempuous behaviour to the first lieutenant of that ship, and taking him by the collar. The charges being proved he was sentenced to 150 lashes, to forfeit his pay and to 2 years solitary confinement in Marshalsea Prison.

1 Sep 1801 It would be almost superfluous to state the result of the court-martial which was afterwards held upon Captain Ferris and the late officers and ship's company of the Hannibal. The court, of which Rear-admiral Holloway was president, sat onboard the Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, on the 1st of September. After the most honourable acquittal that a brave man could desire, Captain Ferris had his sword returned to him by the president, with the following address: " Captain Ferris I have great pleasure in returning this sword to you, as I feel assured, if ever you have occasion to unsheath it again, it will be used with the same gallantry which you so nobly displayed in defending his majesty's ship Hannibal."

May 1805 Portsmouth ; Receiving Ship.

6 - 11 Mar 1807 Court-martial of Sir Home Popham for unapproved expedition to Buenos-Ayres, and leaving the Cape of Good Hope undefended

5-6 Feb 1810, Court-martial assembled on board the Gladiator at Portsmouth, to try Captain Lake for having put a seaman of the Recruit on shore upon an uninhabited island. See Recruit for full details.