HMS Icarus (1858)
HMS Icarus (1858)


Royal NavyVessels

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NameIcarus (1858)Explanation
TypeSloop   
Launched22 October 1858   
HullWooden Length151 feet
PropulsionScrew   
Builders measure580 tons   
Displacement868 tons   
Guns11   
Fate1875 Last in commission1871
Class  Class (as screw)Racer
Ships bookADM 135/246   
Career
DateEvent
22 October 1858Launched at Deptford Dockyard.
1 November 1859
- 24 May 1864
Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness until paying off) by Commander Nowell Salmon, West Indies, then (April 1861) Channel squadron, then (February 1862) Mediterranean
26 February 1866Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Commander Samuel Philip Townsend, China
1868
- 5 December 1871
Commanded (until paying off at Sheerness) by Commander Charles Thomas Montague Douglas Scott, China (and second in command of the naval brigade under Captain Algernon Heneage which was landed for the protection of British subjects at Yangchow)
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
Ma 6 May 1861The following vessels were yesterday lying at Spithead:- Edgar, 91, screw, Capt. J. Katon, flagship of Rear-Admiral J.E. Erskine, second in command of the Channel fleet; Trafalgar, 91, screw, Capt. J.B. Dickson; Diadem, 32, screw, Capt. J.H. Cockburn; Icarus, 11, screw, Commander N. Salmon, V.C.; Flying Fish, 5, screw, Commander Charles W. Hope; Sealark and Rolla, training brigs, and the paddle steamer Cyclops, Commander Pullen. The Diadem was under orders to proceed into Portsmouth harbour this morning and embark a wing of the 55th Regiment, with which she sails for Jersey.
Th 26 February 1863We have received the following letter from ant Malta correspondent, dated Valetta, Feb. 21:-
"The arrangements made for Prince Alfred going home have been unavoidably altered, I regret to say, owing to the unexpected illness of the young Prince, who has been suffering from a severe attack of cold and fever. The St. George, 84, Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton, having Prince Alfred on board, arrived here from Naples on Thursday last, and the Magicienne, 16, Capt. his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen, which, had proceeded from Malta to convey his Royal Highness to Marseilles, returned the same day from Naples. The Duke of Sutherland, accompanied by the Duchess, arrived at Malta on Sunday last from Alexandria, in his steam yacht Undine. They continued their voyage on Tuesday for Sicily and Naples. Her Majesty's despatch boat Psyche, Lieut-Commander Sterne, has arrived at Constantinople, and relieved the Trident, 6, Commander Balfour, which left on the 10th inst for Malta. Her Majesty's ships in Malta harbour are the Marlborough, 131 (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W.F. Martin, K.C.B.); the Hibernia, receiving ship (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H.J. Codrington, C.B.); the St. George, 84; the Magicienne, 16; the Icarus, 11: the Medina and the Firefly, surveying ships; and the Boxer and Growler, tenders."

Her Majesty's screw steam corvette Racoon, 22, Capt. Victor Count Gleichen, which has recently been refitted at Chatham Dockyard, was taken from Sheerness harbour for her final trial on Monday previously to proceeding to sea. The Racoon carries an armament of two 110 lb. Armstrong guns, one 12 lb. Armstrong and one 12 lb. smooth bore guns for boats, one 12 lb. Armstrong fieldpiece, and one 6 lb. smooth bore gun for practice at short ranges on the upper deck; 16 8-inch smooth bore, and four 40 lb. Armstrong guns on the main deck. The most experienced workmen have been employed in fitting her out, which has been done on the principle most approved in the service, and no expense or labour has been spared to render her, as she undoubtedly is, one of the finest vessels of her class now afloat. The trial was under the superintendence of Capt. T.P. Thompson, of the Sheerness steam reserve, and took place at the measured mile off Maplin Sands, Messrs. W. Rumble, inspector of machinery afloat at Sheerness, and Baker, chief inspector of Chatham Dockyard, were in attendance to note the results with respect to the working of the machinery, and the condition of the ship was also minutely inspected by Messrs. Moore, of Chatham Dockyard, and Martin, assistant-master shipwright at Sheerness. The engines were in charge of Mr. Lawson, chief engineer of the ship. The vessel attained an average speed at full boiler power of 10.1 knots per hour; revolutions of engines, 54 per minute; pressure of steam, 20 lb.; vacuum, 25 1b.; while at half-boiler power the average speed was 7.279 knots; revolutions of engines, 42. The circle was turned with full boiler-power, helm to port, 17 deg., in 5 min. 21 secs.; with half-boiler power, helm to starboard, 23 deg., in 5 min. 59 secs. The engines were stopped when going at full speed in 16 secs, from the time of moving the telegraph; they were started ahead in 35 secs., and astern in 25 secs. from dead stop. The Racoon is fitted with trunk engines, 400-horse power, made by Messrs. Ravenhill, Salkeld, and Co., and common screw with corners cut off; pitch, 26 ft.; diameter, 16 ft.; length of blade, 3 ft. During the trial the draught of water was 18 ft. 2 in. forward and 19 ft. 6 in. aft. There was an entire absence of hot bearings or priming, and the trial was pronounced highly successful both as regards the machinery and the qualities of the vessel. The Racoon left Sheerness harbour on Tuesday for Greenhithe, where she will be stationed until after the arrival of her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra, after which she will proceed to Portsmouth and remain there till the Royal marriage ceremony is over, when she is expected to leave for a lengthened cruise on the coasts of Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.

Sa 19 September 1863The following is the letter of our Malta Correspondent, dated Valetta, Sept.14 -,
"Her Majesty's iron screw troopship Orontes, 2, Capt. W. Hire, arrived last night from England and Gibraltar, having on board from the latter place the 2d battalion 7th Regiment, consisting of 25 officers, 832 men. 73 women, 6 ladies, and 97 children under the command of Major R. Hibbert. She also had on board Assist.-Adjt.-Gen. Maude, Capt. Clarke, R.A., Dr. Clarke, R.A., Capt. Durnford, R.E., and 10 naval officers supernumeraries for the fleet. The regiment will disembark today and relieve the 4th battalion Rifle Brigade, which is to embark in the Orontes on Tuesday or Wednesday for Gibraltar. Her Majesty's iron paddlewheel sloop Trident, 3, Commander C.J. Balfour, arrived to-day from Gibraltar to be employed in victualling the fleet. Her Majesty's screw corvette Cossack, 20, W.R. Rolland, arrived at the Piraeus, from Malta, on the 26th ult., and was to leave on the 1st inst. for Beyrout, to relieve the Chanticleer, 17, Commander C. Stirling. Her Majesty's ship Marlborough, 121 (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral R. Smart, K.H.), Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton; the Trafalgar, 70, Capt. T. Mason; the Meeanee, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse; and the Icarus, 11, Commander N. Salmon, V.C., which last arrived on the 29th ult., were anchored in Phalerum Bay. The Cossack remained in Phalerum Bay till the 29th, when she went into the Piraeus, and took up her berth alongside the Orlando, 46. Capt. G.G. Randolph, the only other English ship there. The French ship Magicienne, and two other French war vessels, one Turk, one Greek, and one Italian, were also lying in the Piraeus. The Austrian frigate Novara and another Austrian vessel left early in the morning of the 1st. inst., soon after the arrival of the mail. The English frigate Magicienne, 16, Capt. W. Armytage, called in at Phalerum Bay, on the 28th ult., to communicate with the Admiral, and the Surprise, 4, Commander C.M. Seymour, left for Patras the same day. A court-martial was held on board the Cossack on the 1st, to try a private of Marines for striking a sergeant. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to penal servitude for five years. Her Majesty's ship Queen, 74, Capt. C.F. Hillyar, leaves after the arrival of the mail from Marseilles. due to-night, for Athens, with stores and provisions, and 20,000l. in specie, for the use of the fleet.
Fr 16 October 1863We have received the following letter from our Malta correspondent, dated Valetta, October 10:-
"Letters from the fleet in Greek waters give the following news:- The latest date is the 3d inst. The country continues in a tranquil state, the arrival of the new King being looked forward to with feelings of pleasing expectation and deep interest. Her Majesty's ship Revenge, 73 (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Yelverton, C.B.), which is to escort the young King from a port in France to his new dominions, does not leave Malta for Toulon until Monday next, the 12th inst. Her orders are to be at Toulon by the 15th, and the King is not expected there till the 22d or 23d. It is reported that the Orlando, 46, Capt. G.G. Randolph, which left the Piraeus on the 25th ult. for Corfu, and the West Coast of Greece, will form part of the escort squadron. The following ships of war are at present at the Piraeus:- English.- Marlborough, 121, Capt. C. Fellowes (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Smart, K.H.); Trafalgar, 70, Capt. T. Mason; the Queen, 74, Capt. F. Hillyar; the St. George, 84, Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton (in Salamis Bay); and the Boxer, 2, gunboat, Lieut.-Commander F.S.D. Broughton, tender to the Marlborough. French.- The Magicienne, 23, screw frigate, bearing the flag of the Rear-Admiral commanding; the Tangier, 4, and the Mouette, 4, paddlewheel steamers. Austrian.- The Dandolo, 22, screw corvette; and the Wall, 4, screw gunboat. Italian.- The Tancrede, 4, paddlewheel steamer. Turkish.- The Broussa, 22, screw corvette. Greek.- The Athens, 6, paddlewheel steamer, and a screw gunboat. The English paddlewheel frigate Magicienne, 16, Capt. W. Armytage, sailed from the Piraeus on the 1st inst. for Nauplia and Patras. The Pelican, 17, screw corvette, Acting-Commander Bogle, was expected at Athens about the 10th inst. from Beyrout. She was to return and winter on the coast of Syria. The Liffey, 35, screw frigate, Capt. G. Parker, was also to winter on some part of that station. The Cossack, 22, Capt. W.R. Rolland, and the Icarus, 11, Commander N. Salmon, V. C.. are at present there. Report says that the Marlborough will shortly return to Malta. The Admiral intends, however, to remain at the Piraeus, and hoist his flag on board the Queen. The three men who perpetrated the cowardly murder of a marine belonging to Her Majesty's gunboat Foxhound some months since are about to be brought to trial before the Criminal Court of Athens, the decision of which will be final. The Trident, 3, iron paddlewheel sloop, Commander C.J. Balfour, arrived at the Piraeus on the 25th ult. from Malta with a mail and despatches, and returned on the 6th inst., bringing despatches and letters from the squadron; also three naval cadets and an assistant-clerk for the Meeanee, and two naval cadets for the Phoebe. She steamed from the Piraeus to Kalamata, where she communicated with the Wanderer, 4, gunboat, Commander M.C. Seymour, and performed the remaining portion of the voyage to Malta, with the exception of the last 12 hours, under sail, acquitting herself better than was expected. The Liffey was expected at Kalamata on the 11th inst. The Foxhound, 4, gunboat, Commander W.H. Anderson, left Malta on the 1st inst. for the Piraeus, and the Meeanee, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse, quitted port on the 8th for the same destination, both taking mails and despatches for the squadron. The following mail will probably be conveyed by the Trident. The Caradoc, despatch-vessel, Lieut.-Commander E. Wilkinson, is at Constantinople; the Weser, 6, Commander A.H.J. Johnstone, and the Cockatrice, 2, Lieut.- Commander Gillson, are on the Danube station; and the Procris, gunboat. Lieut.-Commander the Hon. J.B. Vivian, is at Gibraltar. There are at present in Malta harbour the receiving ship Hibernia (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H.T. Austen, C.B.), Commander R.B. Harvey; the Revenge, 73 (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H. R. Yelverton, C.B). Capt. the Hon. F.A. Foley; the Chanticleer, 17, Commander C. Sterling (lately arrived from Syria); the Medina, surveying vessel, Capt. T.A.B. Spratt, C.B. (awaiting her relief the Hydra, 6, paddle-sloop, from England); the Trident, 3, Commander C.J. Balfour; the Psyche, despatch-vessel, Lieut.-Commander Sterne, and the Growler, tender to the Medina (arrived on the 2d inst. from Sicily). The Revenge, having got ashore on the mud at Navarino, was on arrival here admitted into dock for examination. No damage was discovered but what a few sheets of copper will make good. The Phoebe has also been into dock to have her bottom cleaned and examined. Her broken engine is being repaired here, and it will he necessary to cast a new cylinder. It is not expected she will be ready for sea again in much less than three months. Her Majesty's iron screw transport Orontes, 2, Capt. W.H. Hire, which brought here on Wednesday evening, the 30th ult., the 2d Battalion 8th Regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Woods, from Gibraltar, left on return to Gibraltar on Monday, the 5th inst., with the 2d battalion 15th Regiment, under the command of Major Fulton, from this garrison, to replace the former regiment at Gibraltar. She will return with the 100th (Royal Canadian) Regiment, and take away from this the 23d (Royal Welsh) Fusiliers. which have been for some time under order to proceed to Gibraltar in exchange for the 100th. The 8th Regiment is now quartered in Verdala Barracks, on the other aide of the harbour. ... A Prussian steam corvette, the Preussischer Adler, Commodore G. Klatt, and two gunboats, the Basilisk, Lieut. H. Schan, and the Blitz, Lieut. M'Lean, have lately arrived in the Mediterranean from the Baltic, and touched here on their way to the Levant. They left on Sunday and Monday last for Athens, where the Blitz is to remain until further orders. The Preussischer Adler and the Basilisk will go on, the former to be stationed at Constantinople, and the latter on the Danube. They are likely to remain in these waters for two or three years. The Malacca, 17, screw corvette, Capt. G J. Napier, came in this morning in five days from Missolonghi. She is on her way home, having been ordered to England in consequence of legal proceedings having been taken by one of her former officers (Lieut. Armitage) who was dismissed the service by court-martial, and who has brought a charge of conspiracy against certain persons belonging to this ship, who gave evidence in the case. Deputy-Commissary-General Horne arrived to-night by the Euxine from China on his way home. He remains a week at Malta."


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