HMS President

HMS President (1829)

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Name	President (1829)	Explanation
Type	Fourth rate
Launched	20 April 1829
Hull	Wooden
Propulsion	Sail
Builders measure	1537 tons
Displacement
Guns	52
Fate	1903
Class
Ships book
Note	1862 RNR drill ship. 1903 = Old President
Snippets concerning this vessels career
Date	Event
14 February 1834 - 16 June 1834	Commanded by Captain John McKerlie, North America
16 June 1834 - 1836	Commanded by Captain James Scott, flagship of Vice-Admiral George Cockburn, North America and West Indies
30 August 1837 - October 1839	Commanded by Captain James Scott, flagship of Charles Bayne Hodgson Ross, Pacific
31 October 1839 - May 1842	Commanded by Captain William Broughton, flagship of Rear-Admiral Charles Bayne Hodgson Ross, South America
(January 1843)	Out of commission at Portsmouth
14 August 1845 - 6 February 1849	Commanded by Captain William Pearse Stanley, flagship of Rear-Admiral James Richard Dacres, Cape of Good Hope
8 August 1853 - 25 August 1855	Commanded (from commissioning at Chatham) by Captain Richard Burridge, flagship of Rear-Admiral David Price on the Pacific station (including 1854 Anglo-French squadron during the Russian War)
31 August 1854 - 6 February 1855	Commanded (until paying off) by Captain Charles Frederick, flagship of Rear-Admiral Henry William Bruce, Pacific, Anglo-French squadron during the Russian War
26 August 1855 - 13 July 1857	Commanded by Captain Charles Frederick, Pacific
28 June 1862	Commanded by Commander William Mould, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, City Canal
21 April 1866	Commanded by Commander Henry Wandesford Comber, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, City Canal
8 May 1869 - 31 August 1870	Commanded by Commander Charles Gudgeon Nelson, Royal Naval Reserve drill ship, West India Docks
26 August 1870	Commanded by Commander John Binney Scott, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, West India Docks
1 September 1873 - 28 September 1874	Commanded by Commander John Graham Job Hanmer, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, West India Docks
9 May 1878 - 6 August 1879	Commanded by Commander Hon. Edward Stanley Dawson, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, West India Docks
1 August 1879 - 14 January 1880	Commanded by Commander Noel Stephen Fox Digby, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, West India Docks
9 January 1880 - 10 January 1883	Commanded by Commander Henry Holford Washington, drill ship for Royal Naval Reserve, West India Docks
9 January 1883 - 8 January 1886	Commanded by Commander Stuart Hamilton Rickman, drill ship for the Royal Naval Reserve, West India Docks
25 March 1903	Renamed Old President
*Extracts from the Times* newspaper**
Date	Extract
Fr 5 February 1841	Portsmouth.— An augmentation of the Royal Marine Corps has been ordered, report says, to the extent of 3,000 men, which is strongly indicative of a further increase to the navy in the spring. Several splendid ships at the different ports are silently, but expeditiously, being completed for commission. The Vindictive, and Warspite, 50-gun ships, are ordered for commission at this port, as soon as ready. The former is said to be intended for the Lisbon command, with a Commodore's pendant. Rear-Admiral Sir Edward King, K.C.B., reached Rio de Janeiro in the Southampton frigate, from Plymouth on the 14th of November, and was to proceed to the Pacific in about ten days, to succeed Rear-Admiral Ross, C.B., who will return to England in the President frigate, and may be expected home about April next. The Inconstant, 36, Captain Pring, has received orders to proceed to the Mediterranean, it is reported to supply the place of the Pique, 36, ordered home to be docked, &c. She was to leave Plymouth on Tuesday for Malta, taking out between 300 and 400 volunteer seamen for disposal in the fleet. The Endymion frigate, Captain the Hon. F.W. Grey, is under orders for the East Indies, to join Rear-Admiral Elliott's squadron, for whom she will take despatches and supernumeraries for the squadron. The corvette Tweed, 20, Commander Douglas, has bent sails, and is waiting Admiralty orders. It is said she will proceed to the South American station. The corvette Iris, 26, Captain Nurse, has left Spithead for service on the coast of Africa. She took despatches for the senior officer there. It is reported that the Andromache, 26, Captain Baynes, is to go to the East Indies from the Cape of Good Hope. The steamer Lizard, Lieutenant Estcourt, will leave this harbour to-morrow, for the Mediterranean, taking despatches for Sir Robert Stopford. The brig Pelican, 16, Commander Napier, is waiting Admiralty orders at Spithead; she is in want of several petty officers to complete her crew. The Monarch, 84, Captain Chambers, will be at Spithead, according to a private letter, on the 8th instant, from Sheerness.— Brighton Gazette.
Fr 4 February 1842	The Rapid, 10, Lieutenant-Commander E.C. Earle, went out of harbour yesterday afternoon. She has her full complement of men, and will be paid in advance to-morrow, previous to her sailing for the coast of Africa, where she is to be stationed. It is understood that she will touch at Plymouth. Several officers are going out in her as passengers, to join the various ships on the station to which they have been recently appointed. The Hastings, 74, Captain J. Lawrence, C.B., was paid off yesterday. Many of her hands have volunteered into the Queen and other ships fitting out here. The Warspite, 50, Captain the Right Hon. Lord John Hay, C.B., after proceeding to New York with Lord Ashburton, will join the squadron stationed at the West Indies and North America, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adams, K.C.B. It is expected that Lord Ashburton and suite will embark on Monday or Tuesday next, and that the Warspite will sail on the same or the following day. The Queen, 110, Captain G.F. Rich, is now quite ready for sea, with the exception of not having yet completed her complement of men. These, however, she is now procuring very fast. She obtained yesterday a number of volunteers from the Hastings when that ship was paid off, and she is continually receiving men who have been brought from various seaports in the kingdom to join her. 22 volunteers for her are expected daily from Bristol, under the charge of Mr Molesworth, on board the Mercury cutter, which was disabled in the Bristol Channel during the late severe gales. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen will re-hoist his flag on board of her in a few days. She will be at least three weeks before she leaves for the Mediterranean. The Vindictive, 50, Captain J. Toup Nicholas, has had all her masts, guns and stores, taken out, and was docked yesterday morning. The shipwrights are at work upon her, and she is to be got ready for sea again with all possible despatch. The Geyser, Commander E.J. Carpenter, and the Growler, Commander C.H.M. Buckle, steam-frigates, will come round here from the eastward to complete their stores and complement of men, preparatory to proceeding to a foreign station. The Alfred, 50, Commodore J.B. Purvis, is expected daily from Sheerness. She is the same class vessel as the Vindictive, Several of the Hastings' ship’s company have volunteered into her, and will join her when she comes round to Spithead. The President, 50, Captain Broughton, is expected home from the South American station every day, the Dublin, 50, Captain T. Tucker, having arrived there some months since to relieve her.
Tu 27 July 1847	P0RTSM0UTH, Monday. The Iris, 26, Captain G.R. Mundy, arrived at Spithead this morning, from the East India and China station. Her dates are — Penang, April 8; the Cape of Good Hope, June 1; St. Helena, June 14; Ascension, June 19. At Simon's-bay she left the President, 50, Captain Stanley, flag of Rear-Admiral Dacres, Commander-in-Chief; and the Rosamond steam-sloop, Commander Foote, all well. She has brought a mail, but no news from the Cape. The island of St. Helena was healthy; there were no men-of-war there. Ascension also was healthy, but water very scarce. Turtle was plentiful. The Penelope steam-frigate, Captain Giffard, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, K.C.B, Commander-in-Chief; the Tortoise store and guard ship, Captain Hutton; and the Mariner, 12, Commander Mathison, were lying there. The Iris reports that the Agincourt may be looked for in a fortnight. The Iris has been absent nearly four years, and is in admirable condition. Orders were awaiting her arrival to proceed to Chatham to be paid off, which have been so for countermanded that she is to remain at Spithead until Wednesday, and in the mean time Admiral Sir Charles Ogle is to muster her crew and inspect her.
Fr 30 June 1848	Cape of Good Hope, April 21. The President, 50, Captain Stanley, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Dacres, the Commander-in-Chief, sailed from Simon's-bay on the 15th for the Mauritius, taking the Rosamond steam sloop, Commander Foote, with him part of the way. The Rosamond was to go to Mozambique with despatches, and then on to the Mauritius to meet the Admiral there. The Geyser steam sloop, Commander Brown, left this on the 18th, calling off Buffalo River to land Colonel Hare, and then goes on to the Mauritius to join the Admiral; and then they all go to Tamatave to make a treaty with the Queen of Madagascar. The Brilliant, 26, Captain Watson, left this about a month since for the Mauritius, and remains there until the Admiral's arrival, and then she would go to Tamatave with him. The Eurydice, 26, Captain Anson, is to come here to refit; and the Nimrod, Commander Belgrave, on the Eurydice's arrival, will take the Bishop of the Cape to St. Helena on a visit. The Admiral still feels the loss of his son most acutely. The Mariner, 12, Commander Mathison, arrived here on the 15th, the day the Admiral left; she was 17 days from Rio, and left at anchor there the Maeander, 44, Captain the Hon. H. Keppel; the Inconstant, 36, Captain Shepphard [sic]; the Acheron steam surveying ship, Captain J.L. Stokes; and the Hydra steam sloop, Commander Skipwith; — all from England. The Maeander and Acheron are expected here hourly, as they were to leave three days after the Mariner, which has been here nearly a week. The latter leaves this on the 25th for India. All is quiet and going on prosperously in the colony. They have had a severe hurricane at the Mauritius; the damage done is considerable. The Fox, 42, Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood, is expected here every day from India, homeward bound; also the Albatross, 14, Commander Farquhar, from the coast of Africa, en route to India. The Devastation steam sloop, Commander Michell, is also daily expected here from the coast for service on this station. The Seringapatam store ship, Master Commanding Russell, is in Simon's-bay.
Th 22 August 1861	Yesterday the Commissioners of the Admiralty commenced their annual inspection of the dockyard at Chatham. They visited, in the first instance, the lead mills, and afterwards the testing-houses, where the anchors and cables manufactured at this and other yards are tested by powerful hydraulic engines before being delivered to the various vessels of war. Their Lordships, having directed a few minor alterations to be carried out at the testing-house, proceeded to the Anchor-wharf, where the anchors, buoys, and other stores are deposited. Since their last visit several improvements have been carried out at this part of the dockyard, and others are in contemplation. They spent a short time in examining one of the portable steam cranes, several of which have been recently supplied to the yard by Messrs. Taylor, of the Britannia Ironworks, the saving of manual labour by the use of these machines being very great. Leaving the wharf, their Lordships proceeded to inspect the various docks, and also the ships now on the stocks. Passing No. 1 slip, on Which the Salamis has only been within the last few days commenced, the members of the Board inspected the Reindeer, 16, under the second shed. Their Lordships next visited No. 1 dock, which is in course of being extended seaward, and deepened and enlarged, by Messrs. Foord and Sons, the contractors. Already a considerable depth has been gained, by the harbour at that spot having been deepened and the entrance to the dock cleared of the mud, which had for years been accumulating to such an extent that only the smallest vessels could be docked in it. The alterations effected, however, will now admit of large line-of-battle ships being accommodated in it. At present this dock is empty. Advantage has been taken of that circumstance, and the whole is now being floored over, in order that the space thus gained may be used for storing the models and portions of the ironwork required in constructing the Achilles, 50, building in the next dock. The new factory and workshops recently erected between the first and second docks were next visited, the factory being filled with machinery, forges, and workmen employed in preparing the beams, slabs, and plates for the new iron frigate. The Orpheus, 21, screw corvette, in No. 3 dock, being rigged and fitted for the first division of the Steam Reserve, was next inspected, the Duke of Somerset going on board and inquiring into the work in progress. Passing the President, 51, in the next dock, their Lordships briefly inspected the Menai, 22 [laid down in 1861 and cancelled in 1864], the Belvidera, 51 [laid down in 1860 and cancelled in 1864], the Bulwark, 91 [laid down in 1859, suspended in 1861 and finally cancelled in 1873], and the Myrmidon, 4. screw steamers, all of which are in various stages of progress, and then visited the Royal Oak, 51, building under the last shed. This vessel, although only a short time since commenced, has made considerable progress, and every effort is being made to have her completed by an early date. She is the first of the large wooden frigates which the Admiralty have decided on having covered with armour plates, and more than usual interest is therefore felt in her progress. The massive iron plates, each weighing nearly five tons, and of a regular thickness of four and a-half inches, are lying by the side of the vessel in readiness to be placed on the sides immediately the timbers are fit to receive them. The members of the Board went over this fine frigate, which, although only in frame, appears to be of the most gigantic size and of enormous strength. After completing the inspection of the ships building and in dock, their Lordships visited the eastern end of the yard, and inspected the site on which it is proposed to construct the additional docks, basins, and locks for the extension of Chatham Dockyard, in conformity with the recommendation of the Parliamentary committee, the estimated cost of which is upwards of 1,000,000l. sterling. Close to this part of the yard the iron gunboats, built at the close of the Russian war, are laid up under cover, but these were not inspected by their Lordships. Their Lordships then landed at the New-stairs, and proceeded to Melville Naval hospital, where they were received by Surgeon J. Moody, the principal medical officer, and the staff of the establishment. The excellent arrangements of the interior of this hospital were warmly commended The buildings are of the largest kind, and a greater space is afforded the inmates than in any other similar establishment. At present there are 170 patients in the hospital, but accommodation is provided for nearly 300. After leaving the hospital the Duke of Somerset and their lordships again took boot, and were rowed over to St. Mary's Island, to inspect the works in progress there for enlarging the dockyard establishments in that direction. A considerable tract of land has already been reclaimed from the river and embanked, chiefly by means of convict labour, several hundred prisoners being daily employed on the operations. Their Lordships were conducted over the place by Mr. Rivers, clerk of the works, and Mr. Macdonnell, C.E., under whose superintendence the improvement are being carried out. The works are of great magnitude, and will occupy several years before they are completed. The entire sum required for this part of the improvement of Chatham Dockyard, exclusive of the construction of the new docks, &c., is nearly 200,000l. The members of the Board will resume their inspection of the naval establishment at Chatham this morning, after which they will proceed to visit Sheerness.

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