Naval Database

Maeander, 1840
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 44
Launched : 5 May 1840 ; Disposal date or year : Jul 1870
Disposal Details : Wrecked at Ascension
BM: 1221 tons ;
Notes:

Jul 1830 Chatham, building

20 Dec 1848 East Indies

24 Sep 1849 Departed Singapore for Batavia. Captain the Hon Henry Keppel.

20 Oct 1849 It is reported at Sydney that the Meander is to leave Hong Kong for Sydney, Auckland Isles, New Zealand, Sandwich and Navigator Islands, on her way to Valparaiso, calling at Port Essington, embarking officers and Royal Marines there, after destroying the works.

2 Oct 1849 Is reported to be at Anjer Roads, en route for Port Essington.

1 Dec 1849 Departed Port Essington. It is reported that the station is now entirely abandoned, apart from a few livestock.

8 Dec 1849 Arrived Banda Islands (Dutch).

Touched at Port Hunter

12 Jan 1850 Departed Carteret's Harbour at New Ireland

7 Feb 1850 Arrived Sydney with passengers: Capt. Macarthur, RM, Capt. Lambrick, RM, Lt. GS Dunbar, RM, and 34 rank and file of marines, Mr Macarthur, Mr Vigors, 4 women and 1 child. 7 Feb 1850 A few hours after arriving in the port, having anchored in Farm Cove, a serious fire broke out onboard in the bread room:
On Thursday afternoon, a few hours after H.M.S. Meander had anchored in Farm Cove, a fire, which at one time was of a very alarming nature broke out on board. The smell of fire, accompanied by smoke, attracted attention to the bread-room, which in a vessel of this class, is in the aftermost hart of the hold. The fire bell was rung, and the ship's company were immediately at their stations in case of fire. The after magazine being close to the seat of fire was immediately drowned by the usual means. and the deck in the after gun room was scuttled, to allow the lire engine to play on it. The boats were placed in readiness to give assistance, by taking on board the powder &c., as might have been required, in which they were assisted by those of H.M.S. Rattlesnake. One of the boats of the latter, with her fire engine on board, rendered very effective service, by taking up her station under the Meander's stern, which enabled the hose to be led through the after gun-room ports, and the water was directed immediately upon the burning mass. A large quantity, of bread was lost, but no other damage of importance was ultimately sustained, in consequence of the prompt measures taken to subdue the fire. The cause of the conflagration has not been known, but it is supposed that the bread was in a damp state when shipped at Singapore, which caused ignition. Luckily, this did not occur at sea, as they would then have had to trust only to their own resources. There were two tons of gunpowder in the after magazine.

The Meander is a frigate of 44 guns. She left Singapore on the 24th September for Batavia, touching at Anger, and arrived at the former place October 6th; from this she proceeded to Port Essington, passing to the eastward of Java, and through the Straits of Timor, having variable winds, but she reached her destination on the 13th November, and then embarked the detachment of marines and other persons who comprised the settlement, leaving behind merely a few inferior houses, and a small quantity of live stock ; whilst there, her surgeon, Dr. Clarke, died after a few days' illness. From this she sailed on the 1st December for Banda Islands, where she arrived on the 8th, and were very hospitably received by the Dutch authorities. Having watered, she steered for Pitt's Passage, and going to the northward of New Guinea, touched at Port Hunter, and afterwards at Carteret's Harbour, in New Ireland, from which she took her departure on the 12th January. After undergoing the requisite repairs, it is expected she will proceed to Auckland, and from thence to Valparaiso. The military station at Port Essington is now entirely abandoned.

9 Mar 1850 It is reported that she will proceed to Hobart Town Tuesday next, returning to Sydney before sailing for South America.

Apr 1850 Whilst at Hobart carried out landing exercises with the local military. (Hobart Town Courier)

20 Apr 1850 Departed Hobart Town with Governor of NSW and suite.

26 Apr 1850 Arrived Sydney from Hobart Town.

3 May 1850 Sails for Valparaiso, via Norfolk Island and New Zealand.

16 May 1850 Several invalids sent to the Rattlesnake to return home to the UK.

25 May 1850 Departs Wellington for Auckland.

20 Jul 1850 It is reported that she will proceed from Auckland to Tongataboo and the South Sea Islands.

20 Jul 1851 Arrived Portsmouth, with 900,000 dollars freight.

13 Sep 1851 It is reported in NSW that when the ship was in North American waters Midshipman Egerton's gun, whilst ashore with a shooting party in California, burst killing him on the spot.

26 May 1854 Arrived Plymouth, from the Cape of Good Hope with the mails of the SS Australian, which was ashore at Green Point, Table Bay, 28 Mar, but now refloated, 6 April

23 Apr 1856, Present at Fleet Review, Spithead ; Captain Baillie

1857 Storeship, Ascension.

21 Jan 1860 Ascension. Commissioned.

1864 Storeship at Ascension, West Coast of Africa station. Overview and medical report of dysentery and liver disease onboard : number of Cases of Disease and Injury.

1870 Storeship, Ascension, 10 gun