HMS Conway

The Third HMS Conway - HMS Nile 1826 - 1876

There were several vessels called HMS Nile over the years.Details of these other vessels are at the end of this section.

Oct 1826	Laid down coronation at HM Dockyard, Plymouth as a two deck second rate sailing line of battle ship. LOA 205 feet, depth 54 feet, weight 4,375 tons. A 92 gun vessel with ten 8 inch guns, eighty two 30 pounders. Built entirely of wood her construction costs were Ł86,197. Sister ships were Rodney and London. Her full complement of men was 850.
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Sat 28 Jun 1839	Launched at 6pm on the anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation. A very large crowd, estimated at around 50,000 had gathered to watch. She was launched by Miss Warren the daughter of the Dockyard Admiral.
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1839 - 1854	Held in Reserve at Devonport.
14 Dec 1852	During this period the French had launched steam sailing ships and the Admiralty began to debate the need for similar vessels in the Royal Navy. Docked in Devonport to be converted to a screw ship with a engine, propeller and funnel. This took a long time and cost Ł63,837. The 500 hp engine was made by Sewards.
30 Jan. 1854	On completion of the conversion she was finally commissioned.
25 Feb 1854 (to 17 Jul 1854)	Commanded by Commodore Henry Byam Martin, Western (Channel) squadron with complemenet of 830 men and boys.
16-18 April 1854	Underwent steam trials in Stokes Bay.
3 May 1854	Sailed for the Gulf of Finland to join the Baltic Squadron (war had been declared on Russia on March 27th.
17 Jul 1854 (to 20 Apr 1857)	Commanded (until paying off at Plymouth) by Captain George Rodney Mundy.
19 Oct 1854	Left Gulf of Finland.
7 Dec 1854	Departed Kiel for Devonport.
23 Dec 1854	Dry-docked in Devonport (after a minor collision).
Apr 1855	Departed for the Baltic again.
13 Apr 1855	Arrived Kiel.
May 1855	Led the inshore squadron into the Gulf to an anchorage in Biorko Sound. Engaged the Russians on several occasions capturing or destroying large numbers of vessels and supplies.
17 Jun 1855	HMS Nile was off Seskar on the Baltic
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	near Cronstadt that guards the approaches to St Petersburg. The Captain was John Wilson Carmichael. http://www.west.net/~pamass/htmfiles/russ06.htm
26 Oct 1855	Left for Kiel and Devonport
23 Apr 1856	Part of the Spithead Review to mark the end of the Crimean War.
17 Jun 1856	Sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia to patrol the North American and West Indies stations. For some time was the flagship of Rear Admirtal Arthur Flagshawe.
Jun - Dec 1856	Visited Halifax, Bermuda and San Domingo.
1857	Visited San Domingo, Port Royal and Havana
12 Mar 1857	Departed for Spithead and Plymouth. Paid off.
1 Mar 1858 (to 7 Dec 1858)	Commanded by Captain Henry Ducie Chads, later promoted Rear-Admiral when she became his flagship at Queenstown.
13 May 1859	Spent 7 weeks in Greenock (River Clyde) as a show ship open to visitors.
3 July 1859	Arrived on the Mersey for a similar visit, mooring very near the first HMS Conway then awaiting her first New Chums and official opening.
7 Dec 1858	Commanded by Captain Arthur Parry Eardley-Wilmot, flagship of Rear-Admiral Charles Talbot, Queenstown
1 Aug 1859	Ship's band attends opening of HMS Conway.
11 Aug 1859	Departed for Holyhead. A few days later called at Queenstown.
24 Aug 1859	At half-past 6 o'clock on Saturday evening Nile steamed out of Cork harbour to join the Channel squadron at Spithead.
2-16 Sep 1859	Exercised with the fleet in Torbay
8 Sep 1859	The Times reported she was commanded by Capt. A.P.E. Wilmot;
16 Sep 1859	Returned to Plymouth.
3 Oct 1859	The Times reported that "It is expected that the Nile will return to Queenstown, where her crew will probably be reduced to 350."
15 Oct 1859	Sailed into the Atlantic for the West Indies.
4-5 Nov 1859	Caught in hurricane in North Atlantic, suffered considerable damage and loss.
26 Nov 1859	Arrived in Cork for urgent repairs.
17 Dec 1859	Towed to Plymouth for further repairs.
31 Dec 1859 (to 23 Apr 1864)	Commanded by Captain Edward King Barnard, flagship of Rear-Admiral Alexander Milne, North America and West Indies
18 Apr 1860	Sailed for Bermuda.
2 Jun 1860	Arrived Bermuda.
19 June 1860	Arrived Halifax as flagship North American Squadron. Halifax Museum Negative 14902 is a photo of HMS Nile in Halifax Harbour.
1860	Entertained the Prince Of Wales onboard. Visited Halifax, Bermuda and Ireland Island.
6 May 1861	In Grassy Bay, Bermuda
1861	Visited Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Bermuda.
29 Jan 1862	With the Admiral's flag, Nile was at Bermuda.
4 Feb 1862	According to the Bermuda Royal Gazette, Nile was in Bermuda, commanded by Capt. Barnard, flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, K.C.B.
7 Feb 1862	With other vessels engaged in recovering the stores from the Conqueror a total wreck on Rum Cay.
29 Mar 1862	Still at Bermuda
1862	Visited Bermuda, Halifax, Charlottetown, Nassau and Newfoundland.
1863	Visited Jamaica, Havana, Bermuda, Barbados, Antigua, Martinique.
1863	Intervention In The American Civil War? The battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 marked the highpoint of the Confederacy who hoped for international recognition, especially from Britain and France. There were rumours that Britain would support the Confederacy and on Sept 15 th the Union's Foreign Secretary Seward issued a notice to all consulates decrying Britain and France's belief that the Union could not win and that secession was likely. Nile was flagship of the North American Squadron, Rear Admiral Milne was CinC. Public Records Office records show there was steady communication between Milne, the Admiralty and the Duke Of Somerset - the First Lord Of The Admiralty from 1861 discussing the capacity, readiness and potential response of the North American Squadron to any interference with British merchant shipping. On 29 September 1863 Milne visited New York with what is described as the Russian Fleet (see New York Times archives). They remained for at least 4 weeks during which they were very well received by the people of New York and were entertained to balls and other events – the local businessmen (Roosevelts, Astors and Browns) forming a special committee for the purpose. There was a formal visit of New Yorkers to Nile. On October 12-15 Milne and Secretary Seward visited a number of fortifications together. Even at the time of the visit the Confederate side was still strong was still strong There are suggestions that this visit was a cover for high level negotiations with the Union which would decide finally whether or not Britain remained neutral in the American Civil War. I can find no direct evidence to support this but would be interested to hear from anyone who can shed light on the matter.
1864	Visited Port Royal, Jamaica, Havana, Bermuda and returned to Spithead by 18 April.
23 Apr 1864	Placed in Reserve at Devonport where she first started.
20 Mar - 13 May 1875	Engines, boilers, underwater fittings and funnel removed.
1876	The Admiralty carried out many renovations to the ship and a fitted a new foremast (the old main mast of HMS Satellite), main mast, mizzen mast and bowsprit from HMS Jason. Many spars were transferred from the second Conway.
24 July 1876	Moved to Liverpool and renamed HMS Conway.
14 April 1953	The ship slipped her moorings and was taken in tow by the Dongarth (again!) and the Minegarth - the same pair that had brought her from Glyn Garth. During the difficult passage of the Swellies she ran aground on the Platters Rocks below the Menai Suspension Bridge. She settled as the tide fell and broke her back and she became a total loss. The wreck was returned to the Admiralty for disposal. Removal of the wreck became the responsibility of the Caernafon Harbour Board. Details of the removal are in the Gwynedd County Archives.
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	Moved first into a tented camp and then into the huts that became known as The Camp. They were to remain in them for the next ten years. It was later moved to the Parade Ground at the New Building.
30 Oct 1956	Burnt to the waterline whilst being dismantled.
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Other HMS Niles

1800

8 Jul: Involved in capture of French Desiree (38) in dunkirk Roads. 3 other frigates escaped.

17 Nov: Cutter from HMS Nile destgroys French Reloaise and 2 merchant ships in Port Novalo, Morbihan.

1805 "Lugger" HMS Nile involved in a major action with the French and Spanish 150 miles WNW of Ferol. Captured 2 Spanish ships. alos engaged in an action off Rochefort.

1888 A new HMS Nile was begun and predicted to be the last battleship ever built.

1893 This vessel was part of the fleet off Tripoli when HMS Victoria was sunk (rammed) by HMS Camperdown on 22 June.

Page Last Modified (D/M/Y): 11/6/08