Santa Brigida

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 12:40

All last week Plymouth was filled with merchants from London, Liverpool, Bristol, &c to attend the immense prize sales of goods and ships; near £100,000 worth of that species of property was disposed of. Government purchased the hull of El Thetis, of 40 guns, for £1600, and Santa Brigada, of 36, not being for the service, sold to private merchants for £1340 exclusive of guns, rigging and stores. [Hampshire Telegraph, 23 December 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 11:38

Letter from Capt Pierrepoint, of His Majesty’s ship Naiad, off Cape Finisterre, 19 October 1799:


This frigate, my Lord, in company with another called the Thetis, left Vera Cruz on the 21st of August last, and I had the good fortune to fall in with them both, on the evening of the 16th instant, in lat 44 deg, 2 min N, long 12 deg 35 min W, at eight PM the Naiad then a single ship, and to which I immediately gave chace; before midnight I discovered them to be the vessels belonging to the enemy, and was joined by the Ethalion; when the day broke I was also joined by the Alcmene, when the Triton was discovered far a-stern still, owing to the superior sailing of the latter ship; after a chace which lasted 32 hours, I set myself down as indebted for a most valuable capture. The two frigates at seven AM, perceiving themselves not in a state to withstand our united force, took different routes, upon which I made the Ethalion’s signals to pass the sternmost ship of the enemy, as she at that time took the lead in point of sailing, and stand for and engage the headmost vessel, which was obeyed with that alacrity by Capt Young that I make no doubt that she has experienced a similar fate to her companion; but as the Santa Brigida made a determinate push on a southern course, a separation of course took place.
The latter ship of the enemy having rounded Cape Finisterre on the morning of the 18th inst, by her fast sailing, about five o’clock her commander shoved so very close to the rocks of Monte Lora, that the Triton, who was first in pursuit, (Captain Gore being regardless of every thing but closing with the enemy), struck upon the said rocks, going seven knots at the time. I fear her damage is considerable; however she was soon got off again, and commenced an animated fire upon the enemy, as did Capt Digby, with an officer-like presence of mind keeping in that direction to cut off the entrance of Port de Vidre.
At 8AM the frigate closed with enemy amidst the rocks of Commarato, at the entrance of Muros, when the colours were hauled down, and we found ourselves all in foul ground together. A fortunate breeze sprang up from the shore, and we were enabled to put the ship’s heads to the sea, and began to shift prisoners, when a Spanish squadron consisting of four large ships, one with a broad pendant, came out of Vigo with an intention, I suppose, of rescuing the prize.
This being the opinions of Capt Gore and Digby also every exertion was made to secret the prisoners and get the ships under my command to ready to receive them; but on them perceiving my determination they bore up and ran into Vigo; light and variable winds have kept me still in sight of the Spanish coast; which is today one continued blaze, and as I was aware of another squadron of Spanish ships being in Corunna, have thought it my duty to keep all together for the protection of the prize, which is of immense vale, having on board one million four hundred thousand dollars, independent of a cargo of equal estimation.
My companions in the chace, Captain Gore and Digby, make the most favourable report of the zeal and perseverance of their respective officers and crews; and in justice to the officers and ship’s company I have the honour to command, I can only say, that their anxiety get alongside of the enemy’s frigates whilst alone, was equal to what it was afterwards when my force became superior; and on that, as on all former occasions, profited by the able assistance of J H Marshall, my first Lieutenant, to whom I have given charge of the prize. W Pierrepoint.
Triton - one seaman wounded; Alcmene – one seaman killed; 1 petty officer, and 8 seamen wounded; Santa Brigida – two seamen killed, ; 8 seamen wounded.
[Hampshire Telegraph, 28 October 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 28th of May 2026 20:53

London, undated: Distribution of prize money: To the crew of the Naiad, for the capture of the Spanish frigates El Thetis and Santa Brigida, a final distribution of the net proceeds of hull, stores, head-money, and cargoes of those prizes will be made on board the Naiad on her arrival in port. [London Packet, 18 February 1801]