HMS Zenobia (1806)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Zenobia.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Zenobia
Ordered	2 April 1804
Launched	early 1806
Commissioned	1806
Fate	Wrecked 30 October 1806
General characteristics
Tons burthen	11093⁄94 bm
Length	68 ft 2 in (20.8 m) (gundeck) 50 ft 5+5⁄8 in (15.4 m) (keel)
Beam	20 ft 4 in (6.2 m)
Depth of hold	10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Sail plan	Schooner
Complement	35
Armament	10 x 18-pounder carronades

HMS Zenobia was a schooner of the Adonis class of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic War. She was built and completed at Bermuda using Bermuda cedar in 1806 and commissioned under Lieutenant Archibald Hamilton. She sailed for Norfolk, Virginia, on 22 October 1806.

On 29 October 1806, she sighted the American coast and a pilot came aboard. The pilot mistook a fisherman's light on False Cape Henry for the light on Cape Henry and on the morning of 30 October 1806 she grounded 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) south of Cape Henry. Despite the assistance from the shore and several Royal Navy vessels, Hamilton could not refloat her. The desertion to the shore of 18 of her 24-man crew did not help. Hamilton and his remaining crew abandoned the wreck on 6 December 1806.

Postscript

Zenobia's deserters helped provoke what became known as the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. On 22 June 1807, the Royal Navy fourth rate HMS Leopard pursued, attacked, and boarded the United States Navy frigate USS Chesapeake looking for deserters from the Royal Navy, including those from Zenobia.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
• James, William (1837). The Naval History of Great Britain, from the Declaration of War by France in 1793, to the Accession of George IV. R. Bentley.
• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.