Action of 1810/07/03, 3rd July 1810

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Recent Comments

Action of 1810-07-03

3rd July 1810
Part of : The Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815)
Previous action : Action of 1810-05-22 22.5.1810
Next action : The Capture of Reunion 6.7.1810 - 8.7.1810
 

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 
East India Company ships
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Ceylon (26) 1803-1810
British 26 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Henry MeritonBritish
Merchant Sailor
Service 1800-1811
Fleet Flagship 6 killed, 21 wounded Captured
Windham (50) 1800-1818
British 50 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
John StewartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1810
6 killed, 18 wounded Captured
Astell (26) 1809-1831
British 26 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Robert HayBritish
Merchant Sailor
Service 1810
8 killed, 37 wounded
 

Empire Français

 
French Squadron,
Victor Guy DuperréFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1791-1843
Ship NameCommanderNotes
La Bellone (44) 1808-1810
French 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Victor Guy DuperréFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1791-1843
Le Revenant (18) 1809-1810
French 18 Gun
Unrated Corvette
Nicolas MoriceFrench
Naval Sailor
Privateer
Merchant Sailor
Service 1789-1827
La Minerva (44) 1809-1810
French 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Pierre Henry François Étienne Bouvet de MaisonneuveFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1810
 

Notes on Action


Captain of the Revenant (Ex-Victor for the British) ???FWIKI

Lieutenant Morice , captain of Iéna

Listing of the name of the ship

Revenant with Surcouf and Potier de la Houssaye from 02/03/1807 to 04/07/1808 , sold to the State

Iéna with Morice from 04/07/1808 to 08/10/1808 , captured

Victor for the British from 08/10/1808 to 02/11/1809 , captured

Revenant for the French 02/11/1809 to 06/12/1810 , captured


DescriptionTRN5
Early on July 3rd, off Mayotte, the outward-bound Indiamen Ceylon, Henry Meriton (senior officer), Windham, John Stewart, and Astell, Robert Hay, discovered on their starboard bow the French men-of-war Bellone, 40, Captain Victor Guy Duperre, Minerve, 40, Captain Pierre Franois Henri Etienne Bouvet, and Victor, 22, Commander Nicolas Morice. As soon as the Indiamen had satisfied themselves that the strangers were enemies, they prepared for action, while trying at first to avoid it; but, the Frenchmen pressing, Meriton ultimately formed a close line of the Windham, Ceylon, and Astell, in the order named, and awaited the attack, which began at about 2.15 P.M. A most determined and gallant fight was made of it, both by the crews of the ships and by the numerous troops in them [About 250, in each ship, all of the 24th Regt]; and it was not until 7.20 that the Ceylon, having had 7 killed and 21 (including Meriton) wounded, hauled down her colours. The Windham continued the struggle for 25 minutes longer, and struck only when she had had nine guns dismounted, and had lost 6 killed and 18 wounded. The Astell, after losing 8 killed and 37 (including Hay) wounded, put out her lights and escaped in the darkness. The losses on the French side were 22 killed and 38 wounded. Seldom has a braver defence been made by peaceable vessels against an overwhelming force of men-of-war. The prizes were carried to Mauritius.
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Chris Ward on Sunday 7th of September 2025 03:07

Have recently discovered that my Great Great Great Great Grandfather (Thomas Howe) was a soldier onboard the Astell. He was with the 24th Regiment of Foot, travelling to Madras, and was injured when struck by a sword during the fight with the French. He survived and lived to the age of 75.

Make a comment about this page






Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29Jon Miller
French Privateer 'La Résolue' (1798) (18) 1798-1798
French 18 Gun
Privateer Unknown
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29Jon Miller
British Fifth Rate frigate 'Phaeton' (1782) (38) 1782-1828
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:27Jon Miller
British Fifth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1794) (38) 1794-1819
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:24Jon Miller
Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1807
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:19Jon Miller
Sir Robert Lawrie (6th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2026, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement