Thetis, 1817
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 46
Launched : 1817 ; Disposal date or year : 5 Dec 1830
Disposal Details : Wrecked off Cape Frio ; Capt Saml. Burgess
Notes:

Milford 22 Aug 1817 Sailed for Plymouth.

Sierra Leone 13 Jun 1824 arrived ; watered and victualled prior to sailing for Cape Coast Castle on the 17th with units of the Royal African Colonial Corps on board.

From 4 - 11 Jul 1824, defence of Cape Coast Castle by the Royal African Colonial Corps and men of the Thetis and Swinger, 12, against the Ashantee. See p. 237 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

Portsmouth 14 Oct 1824 In Harbour.

Portsmouth 8 Oct 1825 When the wind moderates, will sail for Naples.

Naples 19 Dec 1825 Sailed for England.

Gibraltar 6 Jan 1826 Assisted the James Munro to get off, after she was driven on shore on 3d inst.

Portsmouth 3 Oct 1826 Arrived from Rio de Janeiro with specie.

Rio de Janeiro 20 Jun 1827 Had sailed for Bahia.

Rio Janeiro 1 Aug 1827 Remains in the harbour.

Rio de Janeiro 11 Apr 1828 Remains.

Rio de Janeiro 5 May 1829 Reported to be in the river Plate.

Buenos Ayres 3 Oct 1829 Sailed for the Pacific, via the Falkland Islands.

Buenos Ayres 27 Sep 1829 Sailed for Valparaiso.

27 Sep 1830 It is reported that British men-of-war are no longer welcombe at Chili's ports.

Rio Janeiro 2 Dec 1830 Sailed for England.

5 Dec 1830 Wrecked off Cape Frio, having sailed from Rio de Janeiro the previous day. She is said to have been carrying a large quantity of specie, possibly as much as $800,000. It is reported that 20 of her crew may have been lost. The disaster was reported to the Flag Officer at Rio on the 10th, by Lieutenant Hamilton, who travelled overland from Cape Frio.

Cape Frio 13 May 1831 over $130,000 had been recovered under the supervision of Captain Dickinson, HMS Lightning.

Cape Frio Mar 1832 Recovery of her cargo continues under the supervision of Captain Dickinson, HMS Lightning, and over $500,000 had been recovered and sent to England. Captain Dickenson was relieved by Captain de Roos of the Algerine. See the London Saturday Journal for March 1839, Page 138, for some details regards the recovery of the treasure.

Cape Frio May 1832 The search for her treasure is reported to have been abandoned, but was, in fact to continue successfully for a few more months.