HMS Bulldog (1845)
HMS Bulldog (1845)


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NameBulldog (1845)Explanation
Type1st class sloop   
Launched2 October 1845
HullWooden
PropulsionPaddle
Builders measure1124 tons
Displacement 
Guns6
Fate1865
Class 
Ships bookADM 135/68
Note1865.10.23 burnt off Haiti
Snippets concerning this vessels career
DateEvent
25 June 1846Commanded by Commander George Evan Davis, Cape of Good Hope
3 May 1847
- 1850
Commanded by Commander Astley Cooper Key, Mediterranean
23 January 1854
- 18 February 1855
Commanded by Captain William King Hall, the Baltic during the Russian War
19 February 1855
- 28 March 1857
Commanded by Commander Alexander Crombie Gordon, the Baltic during the Russian War
9 December 1860
- 22 July 1862
Commanded by Commander Henry Frederick McKillop, North America and West Indies
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
Sa 20 April 1850In Harbour. - The Victory, Excellent, Illustrious, Blenheim, Fanny, and Portsmouth tenders, the Echo tug, and the Locust steam-vessel.
In Dock. - The St Vincent, Winchester, Fox, Penelope, Rapid, and Electra.
In the Basin. - The Niger, Devastation, Fantome, Griffon, and Fairy.
In the Steam Basin. - Termagant, Hecate, Victoria and Albert, Bulldog, Blazer, Flamer, Pike, Asp, and Elfin.
We 5 January 1853The steam squadron of reserve, under the superintendence of Captain W.H. Henderson, C.B., of the Blenheim, 60, since the commissioning of the Sidon, Odin, Furious, and Medea, has been reduced to four vessels — viz., the Leopard, 12, 560-horse power; Vesuvius, 6, 280-horse power; Bulldog, 6, 500 horse-power; and the Stromboli, 6, 280-horse power; all paddle vessels. The Hecla, 6, will shortly join them, having been masted ready for rigging.
Ma 6 March 1854

PORTSMOUTH, March 5.

The victualling of the ships at Spithead for six months foreign service was completed yesterday. There are now at this rendezvous to-day the following ships, the complements of which we give, as nearly as we can arrive at them without consulting the ships' books:—
 Guns.Tons.Crew.Horse-
power.
Princess Royal, Captain Lord Clarence Paget, flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B., &c.913,129880400
Prince Regent, Captain Hutton, flag of Rear-Admiral Corry.902,513821—
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett, flag of Rear-Admiral Chads. C.B.561,772660450
Royal George, Captain Codrington, C.B.1212,6161,100400
St. Jean d'Acre, Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel.1013,600900650
Boscawen, Captain Glanville.702,212620—
Hogue, Captain W. Ramsay.601.750660450
Impérieuse, Captain Watson, C.B.512,347530360
Arrogant, Captain Yelverton.471,872450360
Amphion. Captain A.C. Key.341.474320300
Tribune, Captain the Hon. S.T. Carnegie.301,570200300
Dauntless, Captain Ryder.331,490300580
Leopard, Captain Giffard.181,412280550
Valorous, Captain C.H.M. Buckle.161,255220400
Dragon, Captain Willcox.61,270200500
Bulldog, Captain W.C. Hall.61,123160500
Frolic, Commander Nolloth.16511120—
They have each been ordered (this day) to draw charts for the Baltic.
Every day will add to this force, which will eventually include the three-deckers, Duke of Wellington, 131; St. George, 120; Waterloo, 120; Neptune, 120; Caesar, 91; Nile, 91; James Watt, 91; Algiers, 91; Monarch, 84; Ganges, 84; Cressy, 81; Majestic, 81; Blenheim, 60; Ajax, 60; Euryalus, 51 ; Fox, 42; Pique, 40; and numerous others. Sir Charles Napier will, we believe, command personally 20 sail of the line, and 10 sail of French. There will be about 50 sail of smaller ships, which will be apportioned to the English and French Rear-Admirals and Commodore Martin, and it is reported a squadron of sailing-sloops or brigs is to be commissioned to cruise off the Scotch coast to prevent privateering. Rear-Admiral Corry will shift his flag to-morrow from the Prince Regent, 90, to the Neptune, 120, an order having been received yesterday, appointing Captain Hutton to the Neptune, and Captain Smith, C.B., from the Neptune, to the Prince Regent. Captain Hutton takes with him Commander Bunce, Lieutenant Brandreth, and 50 of the Prince Regent's crew. When the change of officers and ships was made known on board the Prince Regent yesterday, the whole ship's company, who really love their admiral and captain, and are devotedly attached to their matchless ship, wanted to follow the admiral, as one man, into the Neptune, and when told that only 50 would be allowed to be draughted by the Admiralty, their countenances betokened the sincerest dejection. Subsequently all the petty officers went aft on the quarter deck and respectfully requested that the Admiralty might be memorialised for their removal with their admiral and captain. The Neptune will be some time getting ready. She has lower yards and topmasts up and topgallant masts pointed, but has only 150 men on her books besides her draught of Royal Marines. We expect, therefore, that Rear-Admiral Chads will be the first despatched with a "flying squadron" of frigates towards the Baltic, that Sir Charles Napier will follow, and that Rear-Admiral Corry will bring up the rear. Captain Hay, of the Victory, has declined the flag-captaincy to Sir Charles Napier. The Prince Regent, the St. Jean d’Acre, the Amphion and the Odin were paid wages down to the 31st of January yesterday. The Impérieuse, Tribune, and Valorous will be paid to-morrow, leaving only the Arrogant (whose pay books have not yet been landed) of Admiral Corry's division to be paid. The Blenheim, 60, Captain the Hon, F.J. Pelham, has readjusted her compasses and will be ready to join the fleet to morrow. The Caesar, 91, Captain Robb, is rattling down her rigging. The Odin, 16, Captain F. Scott, is repairing boilers in the steam-basin. The fleet are daily exercised in gunnery, reefing, furling, &c. Mr. Parratt, of the Treasury, brought down last night from London a small tubular collapsing boat, upon the principle of his admirable liferaft, which he has this day taken off to the St. Jean d'Acre, for the Hon. H. Keppell. The 23d, 42d, and 79th Regiments are preparing for active service. The two latter corps will be augmented by volunteers from the 72d and 79th depots, 31 volunteers from the 11th Foot, 32 from the 65th, and 62 from the 35th embarked from this dockyard at 6 o'clock this morning, in the Foyle, British and Irish Steam-pocket Company's vessel, to join the 1st battalion of the Royals, at Plymouth. The Foyle embarks the 93d depôt at Plymouth, to-morrow, for the Isle of Wight. The depôt of the 2d battalion of the Rifle Brigade will be conveyed to the Isle of Wight to-morrow in Her Majesty's steam-tender Sprightly.
The Cruiser, 14, Commander G.H. Douglas, will join the Baltic fleet.
Ma 26 February 1855As far as can be ascertained at present, the fleet about to be despatched to the Baltic will be thus composed:—
Commander-in-Chief.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, the Hon. Richard Saundars Dundas, C.B.
Second in Command.— Rear-Admiralof the Blue, Michael Seymour.
Third in Command.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, Robert Lambert Baynes, C.B.
Captain of the Fleet.— The Hon. F.T. Pelham.
 GunsHorse-power
Duke of Wellington (flag)131700
Royal George, Captain Codrington, C.B. 102400
Exmouth (flag)91400
James Watt, Captain Georce Elliot91600
Orion, Captain Erskine91600
Caesar, Captain Robb91400
Nile, Captain Mundy91500
Majestic, Captain J. Hope, C.B.81400
Cressy, Captain Warren81400
Colossus, Captain Robinson81400
Sanspareil, Captain Heath70350
Blenheim, Captain W.H. Hall60450
Hogue, Captain Ramsay60450
Ajax, Captain Warden60450
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett60450
Russell, Captain Scott60200
Hawke, Captain Erasmus Ommanney60200
Cornwallis, Captain Wellesley60200
Pembroke, Captain G.H. Seymour60200
Hastings, Captain Caffin60200
Imperieuse, Captain Watson, C.B.51360
Euryalus, Captain Ramsay51400
Arrogant, Cantain Yelverton47360
Amphion, Captain A.C. Key34300
Horatio, Captain Cochrane24250
Cossack, Captain Fanshawe212ö0
Pylades, Captain D'Eyncourt21250
Esk, Captain T.F. Birch21250
Tartar, Captain Dunlop21250
Archer, Captain Heathcote17200
Retribution, Captain Fisher28400
Magicienne, Captain Tatham16400
Odin, Captain Willcox16560
Sampson, Captain Brock6467
Dragon, Captain Stewart6560
Bulldog, Captain W.K. Hall6500
Penelope, Captain Sir W. Wiseman18650
Lightning, Captain B.J. Sulivan3100
Vulture, Captain Glasse 6470
Desperate, Commander White8400
Conflict, Commander Cumming 8400
Cruizer Commander the Hon. G. Douglas1460
Harier, Commander Story14160
Ariel, Commander Luce960
Falcon, Commander Pullen17100
Basilisk, Commander the Hon. F. Egerton6400
Rosamond, Commander Crofton6286
Driver, Commander Rice6280
Janus, Lieutenaut Kane4220
Locust, Lieutenant -3180
Otter, Lientenant W.A.J. Heath3120
Porcupine, Lieutenant Jackson3132
Zephyr, Lieutenant Bond3100
Recruit, Lientenant J.F. Day4160
Weser, Lieatenant Commerell4160
Vulture, Captain Glasse 6470
Floating Batteries
Ætna16Thunder16
Glatton16Trusty16
Meteor16 
Mortar Vessels
Blazer1Manly1
Firm1Mastiff1
Hardy1Porcupine 1
Havock1Surly1
Steam Gunboats
Gleaner3Hind2
Pelter3Jackdaw2
Pincher3Jasper2
Ruby3Jack2
Teazer3Magpie2
Badger3Redwing2
Snapper3Skylark2
Biter2Snap2
Boxer2Starling2
Clinker2Stork2
Cracker2Swinger2
Dapper2Thistle2
Fancy2Weasel2
Grinder2Pigmy2
The Belleisle, 24, Commander Hosken, hospital ship.
The Æolus, 42, ammunition magazine.
The Perseverance, storeship.
The Volcano, floating engineers' factory, Master-Commander Dyer.
Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour has hoisted his flag (pro tem.) as second in command of the Baltic Fleet on board the Nile, 91, Captain Mundy, at Plymouth. Mr. Dyer, secretary at the Devonport dockyard, goes to sea with Admiral Seymour as secretary.
Sa 17 March 1855We learn by electric telegraph that an advance squadron of the fleet will leave Spithead for the Baltic to-morrow or Sunday, a signal having been made yesterday by the Commander-in-Chief of the following nature:— "Officers of flying squadron on loave to be recalled immediately; ships to be ready for sea by Sunday. — C.B." The ships thus denoted we believe to be the Imperieuse, 51, Captain Watson, C.B. (who will hoist a broad pendant aa commodore of the second class, and command the squadron); the Euryalus, 51, Captain G. Ramsay; the Arrogant, 47, Captain Yelverton; the Dragon, 6, Captain Stewart; the Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford; the Magicienne, 16, Captain Vansittart; the Bulldog, 6, Commander S. Gordon; the Archer, 15, Captain Heathcoate; the Conflict, 8, Commander Cumming; and the Falcon, 14, Commander Pullen. The Amphion, 33, Captain Key; and the Pylades, 21, Captain D’Eyncourt, both at Sheerness, will follow, when ready.
The fleet at Spithead was augmented yesterday by the arrival of the Exmouth, 91, Captain the Hon. F.T. Pelham (captain of the fleet), and the Magicienne, 16, paddle-frigate, Captain Vansittart, from Plymouth, making the following force, which is hourly being increased, at the anchorage:— The Duke of Wellington, Neptune, St. George, Royal George, Exmouth, Nile, Cressy, Majestic, Calcutta, Ajax, Imperieuse, Euryalus, Arrogant, Esk, Magicienne, Archer, Dragon, Bulldog, Falcon, Ariel, &. The Blenheim, 60, Captain Hall, will join to-day, and one or two from Plymouth or Sheerness are expected. The Port-Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.B., struck his flag on board the Victory yesterday, and went on leave, owing to indisposition. Rear-Admiral Martin is senior officer pro tem.
The Pelter, screw-gunboat, was docked again yesterday to have another screw applied, and some further alterations made in her lee boards to keep her from rolling; this vessel has been on the doctor's list ever since she arrived at Portsmouth. The Ruby, steam-gunboat, is also to be brought into dock to have some alterations made.
Ma 26 March 1855The fleet at Portsmonth yesterday consisted of the
Duke of Wellington131Retribution28
Neptune120Magicienne16
St. George120Odin16
Royal George102Cruiser16
Caesar91Falcon16
Nile91Ariel9
Exmouth91Vulture6
James Watt91Bulldog6
Calcutta84Dragon6
Cressy 81Geyser6
Majestic81Driver6
Hogue60Centaur6
Ajax60Basilisk6
Blenheim60 Gorgon6
Edinburgh58Lightning4
Pembroke60Pelter3
Hastings60Ruby3

The Hastings, 60, Captain Caffin, got up her steam again on Saturday, and proceeded out of harbour to test her engines, returning aftre the trial. The Pembroke, 60, Captain Seymour, also got up steam for a similar test, bul did not go out. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, steamed out of harbour, and joined the fleet, which has been supplied with an enormous quantity of Congreve rockets for boat service, and shot, shell, and powder, at the discretion of each Captain, and not regulated by any before regulated "establishment." Saturday, the 7th proximo, is the day rumoured as that of the departure of this fleet for the Baltic. The Driver, 6, steam sloop left Spithead on Friday night with supernumeraries for the squadron in the Downs, and returned to Spithead yesterday.
Fr 6 April 1855The ships left at Spithead after the departure of the main body of the Baltic expedition shifted berths yesterday under sail, and formed two lines, as ordered, thus:—
Falcon, 14 (screw)Neptune, 120
Ariel, 9 (screw)Calcutta, 84
Cruiser, 16 (screw)Orion, 91 (screw)
Centaur, 6 (paddle)St. George, 120
Pylades 21 (screw)Powerful, 84

The Geyser, 6, paddle, was ordered to take officers and men for the Baltic fleet in the Downs, and left last evening. The Driver, 6, paddle, will leave Spithead to-morrow, and will then also take supernumeraries to join the larger ships. The Falcon returned to Spithead on Wednesday night from the Channel. Rear-Admiral Baynes remains at Portsmouth to take out the third division; but his flagship, the Retribution, will not be out of the hands of the engineer department until the 10th, and then the shipwrights will not have done with her. She remains in the steam basin, with Admiral Baynes's flag at her mizen, and is being proceeded with as fast as possible. The Odin, 16, paddle frigate, is also in the steam basin, having new covers to her cylinders fitted, her old ones not being strong enough to contain the pressure of the additional power of steam generated by her new boilers; she will be refitted in this respect by the 10th. The Ruby, Pelter, and Grinder gunboats are all in the hands of the dockyard artificers; the latter, which came up from Cowes on Monday from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Robert White, is in dock, being fitted out for the fleet. The Pelter is having moveable iron plates of a quarter of an inch thickness fitted on to the gunwale, and projecting above the bulwarks about 18 inches, for, the protection of her crew from rifle bullets from without, when in close proximity with the enemy, and also the better to enable those onboard to shield themselves while at rifle firing themselves. This vessel needed some new tubes for her boilers, but those sent to replace the defective ones are said to be four inches too short for her! The Hastings, 60, new screw blockship, went out of harbour yesterday again to make a trial of her steaming properties at the measured mile. She went out with most of her weights on board, and drawing 22 feet. The mean of four runs showed an average speed realized of 6·7 knots — a result far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the scientific on board and ashore; revolution of engines, 78; and pressure of steam in the boilers, 55lb. The inexperience of the stokers alone prevented a better mean speed being realized, and there is little doubt that greater speed will be ultimately obtained. She victuals now 279 out of her intended complement of 600. The Ruby gunboat was undocked yesterday. The Bellerophon, 78, landed her invalids yesterday morning at the dockyard jetty, and they were conveyed to the invalid depôt by railway. The ship is now returning stores, preparatory to being put out of commission. Her officers will be paid off, but the crew will be paid down, and after a fortnight’s leave draughted for service in the Baltic. None of her bulkheads or internal fittings are to be removed.
We learn by electric telegraph from Deal that the Baltic fleet at anchor in the Downs yesterday comprised the following vessels:—The Duke of Wellington, 131, Royal George, 101, Nile, 91, James Watt, 91, Caesar, 91, Exmouth, 91, Majestic, 81, Cressy, 81, Colossus, 81, Hogue, 60, Blenheim, 60, Edinburgh. 60, Vulture, 6, Dragon, 6, Gorgon, 6, Basilisk, 6, Bulldog. 6. The Ajax, 60, was coming in. The weather being very fine visitors were flocking in to Deal by every train.
Sa 7 April 1855

THE BALTIC FLEET.
(From a correspondent afloat)

The Baltic fleet, the most powerful and imposing that ever left the shores of even naval England, sailed from Spithead yesterday in profound silence, contrasting strongly with the sailing of the fleet last spring, when all was gay and promising, and anxious thousands crowded the waters of the Solent from all parts of the kingdom, to give their last adieux and breathe their good wishes for success. Yesterday was lowaring and gloomy; only two gay yachts (one of which, unfortunately, came to grief) braved the uncomfortable weather, and fog shut out from the shores the magnificent spectacle of 13 line-of-battle ships leaving their anchorage under canvass. There was no good Queen there to wish "success,” nor were the waters spotted over with boatloads of well-wishers, but every man in the fleet left with a glowing hope of returning in the autumn deserving of being welcomed with joy and acclimation, and forming another contrast to last year. The fleet got under way at 2 o'clock, and proceeded without any particular order, about six miles to sea when it fell as dead calm, and signal was made to get up steam. By 4 o'clock the fog had cleared away and the sun shone without a cloud in the blue sky to screen his brightness. The ships shortened all sail and proceeded to the eastward in two long lines. The starboard division was formed by the Duke of Wellington (bearing the flag of Admiral Dundas, Commander-in-Chief) leading, and followed in rotation by the Royal George, the Caesar, the Colossus, the Blenheim, and the Edinburgh.
The port division was led by the Exmouth with the flag of Admiral Seymour (second in command) and followed by the Nile, the James Watt, the Majestic, the Hogue and the Ajax. The six paddle steamers, the Dragon, the Bulldog, the Vulture, the Basilisk, the Magicienne, and the Gorgon kept station on either side of the lines. In this order the fleet proceeded up Channel with the moon (nearly at the full) shining brightly, and a gentle breeze, just enough to call a ripple on the water, when, about opposite Brighton, at 10 o’clock, a large merchant ship running under all sail with the wind a little on her starboard quarter, ran foul of the Duke of Wellington, doing some serious damage, carrying away her foreyard, port swinging boom, the whole of the port and part of the main chains, quarter gallery, and hammock-netting, breaking the stock of the best bower-anchor, and driving the sheet-anchor from its berth into the gangway. The shock to the merchantman must have been fearful, as she went nearly stem on. Her foremast went by the board like a stick, and she drifted astern a total wreck, carrying her gear with her. It is believed she wag a very large ship. A steamer was sent to assist her almost immediately, but returned after some hours, unable to find her and great fears are entertained that she has foundered. The accident, as far aa I can yet learn, seems to have happened through no "look-out" being kept in the merchantman, and the man who was steering her did not see his danger until he was close to the Duke, whose helm was hard to port, steering south to get out of his way. The vessels would have passed each other had he not in his hurry and consternation, put his helm hard a-starboard and run, of course, right into the forechains of the Duke. No blame is to be attached to the officer of the watch, who seems to have done all that was proper to avert the accident, which will detain the ship at least 10 or 12 days, and she will most likely have to go to Sheerness for repairs.
Tu 8 May 1855Her Majesty's sloop Lily, 12, Commander Sanderson, arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from the China and Australian stations, last from the Brazils. She was detached from the China squadron and left Singapore on the 18th of November, 1854, arrived at Port Phillip December 29, left on the 23d of January, arrived at Rio on the 10th of March last, and left on the 17th for Spithead. She brought golddust from Australia to the amount of 40,000l. sterling, on merchants' account. She met with strong westerly gales and in latitude 58·46 S. longitude 161·8 W. fell In with large icebergs, and was running among them for a fortnight; on coming upon them the barometer was observed to fall a great deal, accompanied by heavy snow-storms. She passed the Exodus, of Liverpool, about 300 miles S.W. of the Lizard, on the 28th ult., with loss of topmasts. When she left the Australian station Her Majesty's ships Calliope and Acheron were at Sydney, and the Fantome and Electra at Melbourne; the marines and seamen of the Electra had been landed on several occasions to act with the military in the late disturbances. The Electra had been to King's Island to rescue the crew of two merchant vessels wrecked there, and had saved 20,000l. in specie. The Lily has been five years and three months in commission, during which time she has circumnavigated the globe. She brought home Lieutenant Davis, on promotion from the Electra; Lieutenant Brock, on promotion from the Lily; Mr Howarth, mate, from the Electra; Mr. Tucker, clerk, from the Fantome; and Mr. Douglas, mate, from the Styx, to join the Bulldog.
Fr 28 May 1858The Impérieuse, 51, screw frigate, will be undocked this day at Portsmouth and placed in the steam basin to be completed for commission.


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