| 1816 |
Laid down
in Woolwich on the River Thames, London as a Java Class fourth rate
60 gun frigate 16 42 pound guns, 8 carronades and 36 24 pound guns.
1,487 tbm; 173' x 44' 6". She weighed 487 tons and had a full compliment
of 450 men and boys. Her lines were sharp, approaching those of a clipper, yet she could carry tons of foodstuffs, fresh water, and war material to keep her at sea for months. She was well sparred and crossed three skysail yards. And she wad described as a perfect gem in hull and rigging, not at all like most short, wide and shallow British warships of the fourth rate. |
| 21
June 1822 |
Launched. |
| 1828 to Dec 1830 |
Commanded by Captain
Charles J. Austin. Flagship of Edward Griffith Colpoys, until invalided. In October 1828 the ship visited Jamaica. The diary and private journal of Charles John Austen (latterly Rear Admiral) for 1830 is held by the National Maritime Museum: The Caird Library, Manuscripts Section Record Reference AUS/131-132. NRA catalogue reference. NRA 30121. |
| 1831 |
Capt.
was Lord William Paget, In May she was in the West Indies. |
| 1833 |
Out
of commission at Chatham. |
| 1834 |
Capt.
was Edward Sparshott. In June she was in the East Indies.
|
| 1834-38 |
Seven
logbooks for these years are held by the US Library of Congress,
Manuscript Division Reference : GB, Navy, Cont 183-189 http://www2.hmc.gov.uk/nra/searches/locresult.asp?LR=734 |
| 1837 |
Flagship
of Rear Ad. Sir Frederick Maitland, East Indies. |
| 19/21
Oct 1837 |
Off
Entry Island (now known as Kapiti Island)... |
| 1838 |
Ordered
home. |
| 18 Mar 1839 through 1840 |
Commanded by Captain John Parker, flagship of Thomas Harvey, North America and West Indies (NAWI) station. |
| To 7 Mar 1842 |
Capt. was Thomas W. Carter.
A three page letter exists from a William Kelly on board the ship
at Spithead. It mentions going to the Cape of Good Hope and the
ship's refitting in March. In August she was back in NAWI. |
7 Mar 1842
to 1846 |
Commanded by Captain Charles Eden, flagship of Rear-Admiral Josceline Percy, Cape of Good Hope |
| 16 Mar 1852 |
Commanded by Captain Granville Gower Loch, flagship of Rear-Admiral Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, East Indies |
| 1852 |
Engaged
in the Burmese War.
9 Oct: Captured Prome as part of
a mixed naval/military force. |
| 4 Feb 1853 |
Combined
British force (British and Bengal) including Winchester repulse
a Burmese attack near Donabew (Danubyu) and re-capture Prome.
The Captain, Captain
Granville Gower Loch died of wounds on 4th February 1853. His
memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral, London says "Sacred to the
memory of Granville Gower Loch Companion of the Order of the Bath
Captain of H.M. Ship Winchester who fell in the service of his
Country near Donabew on the River Irrawaddy on the 4 Feby 1853
in the 40 year of his age."
His replacement
was Edward Sholto Douglas
( the only son of the late Major Sholto Douglas, and nephew of
the Marchioness of Queensberry ) but he was invalided off the
ship on 20th February in Rangoon. He was sent home in Hastings
but she was lost off the Isle of Ascension on 27th February. HIs body was recovered
and he was buried on the island.
His replacement was Capt Louis Charles Henry Tonge. The Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK holds Captain Tonge’s memoirs as his family lived in Highway, near Calne. He was Winchester’s gunnery officer in 53-54 and his memoirs describe the events of those years in graphic and exciting detail. |
| 1853 to 1854 |
Ship travelled all over the Far East, from Rangoon to Madras, Singapore, Borneo and Hong Kong. During this period, Spent several months pursuing pirate junks which were preying on other shipping. The pursuit took her along the south coast of China and up the Pearl River towards Canton. |
| 29 Apr 1854 (to 1856) |
Captain James Stirling took up his fifth command in Winchester on the East Indies station.He was later promoted Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling and the new commander was Captain Thomas Wilson. Winchester became Stirling's flagship. Later he went to be a full Admiral and Founding Governor of Western
Australia. |
| 1854 |
Participated in the 2nd Anglo-Chinese War:
16 Feb:
Boats captured 7 pirate junks off Lema Islands Hong Kong.
2 Nov: Boats destroyed 9 pirate junks
in Tynmoun Bay near Hong Kong. |
| 25 Mar 1855 |
Boats destroyed
9 pirate junks in Port Shelter |
| 1856 |
6 Nov:
Boats assited in capture of French ship Folly on the Canton River
and destroyed 21 war junks.
29 Oct: Involved in capture of Canton
(see First Ship 1841 30 May) along with British and US warships.
Landed naval Brigade and Royal Artillery.
Later that
year having moved further north, British sailors first set eyes
on the dramatic natural harbour of Vladivostok when Winchester
sailed in during the Crimean War. The English visitors named the
bay Port May, according to contemporary chronicler Nikolai Matveyev.
It was named Vladivostok in 1860. |
| 1857 - 61 |
Harbour
service at Chatham. |
| 1861-1876 |
In service
as HMS Conway. |
| 12
Jul 1876 |
The second
ship also became too small and the Admiralty agreed to provide another
larger ship - HMS Nile. On 12 July 1876 the two ships exchanged
names. The second HMS Conway, originally HMS Winchester became HMS
Nile and was towed from the Mersey to Devonport by the paddle frigate
Valorious. |
| 24
Jul 1876 |
She arrived
in Devonport. |
| 1
Sep 1876 |
On
her return the Admiralty renamed her HMS Mount Edgcumbe. |
