HMS Fox was a 32-gun Active-class fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 2 June 1780 at Bursledon, Hampshire by George Parsons.
Early career Fox was sent to the Caribbean in late 1781 and in January the following year under Captain Thomas Windsor captured two Spanish frigates. In March 1783 under Captain George Stoney captured the Spanish frigate Santa Catalina.
Fox was at Plymouth on 20 January 1795 and so shared in the proceeds of the detention of the Dutch naval vessels, East Indiamen, and other merchant vessels that were in port on the outbreak of war between Britain and the Netherlands.
In March 1797, near Visakhapatnam, Fox captured the French privateer Modeste, under Jean-Marie Dutertre.Demerliac, p. 308, no 2898
Took part in the bloodless Raid on Manila in January 1798.
Given that Fox served in the navy's Egyptian campaign between 8 March and 2 September 1801, her officers and crew qualified for the clasp "Egypt" to the Naval General Service Medal that the Admiralty issued in 1847 to all surviving claimants.
Napoleonic Wars On 12 May 1809, Fox, Commander Henry Hart, brought into Madras, her prize Caravan, Aikin, master. Caravan was the former Cartier, Aikin, master, that the privateer had captured in October 1807. Caravan had been carrying stones for building forts, arrack, coffee, and several carriages and bandies.The Asiatic Annual Register Or a View of the History of Hindustan ..., Volume 11 (June 1809), p.103.
War of 1812 From April to June 1812 Fox was at Woolwich Dockyard being refitted as a 16 gun troopship.Winfield, (2008)
On 30 March 1813 the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion embarked on the ships HMS Romulus,HMS Romulus Ship Muster 1812 July–1813 March ADM 37/3650 refers to 1st, 7th and 8th companies and 35 artillerymen. HMS Diomede,HMS Diomede Ship Muster 1813 January–October ADM 37/4262 shows 5th and 6th Companies boarded on 30 March, having been on HMS Fox. HMS Nemesis,HMS Nemesis Ship Muster shows entries 688 to 780 were for embarked Marines. There is no mention of their unit but 1st Lt Ch Pratt and 1st Lt Harrison are the two Marine officers present. and HMS FoxHMS Fox Captain's Log 23 May 1812–17 February 1814 ADM 51/4450. set sail on 7 April, and arrived in Bermuda on 29 May 1813.
In September 1814 Fox was in a squadron, with as flagship, that carried the advance guard of Major General Keane's army, which was moving to attack New Orleans. Under the rules of prize-money, the troopship Fox shared in the proceeds of the capture of the American vessels in the Battle of Lake Borgne on 14 December 1814.
The Fox, along with the Dasher, Fairy, Espiegle, Columbia, Barbadoes, Muros, Chanticleer, and Niobe were utilised as troop ships during the Invasion of Guadeloupe (1815) against the Bonapartist Admiral Linois.Despatch from Durham to Croker dated 15 August 1815 within She returned to Portsmouth in October 1815, and then was duly sent to Le Havre.
Fate Fox was broken up in April 1816.
Notes
Citations
References
Hannings, Bud. (2012). The War of 1812: A Complete Chronology with Biographies of 63 General Officers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland.