Artois

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 13th of June 2026 08:02

We are sorry to announce to our readers that the Artois, of 36 guns, Capt Sir Edward Nagle, was unfortunately lost near the Isle of Rhee, last Monday, the officers and crew were providentially saved by the ships of the squadron; she struck on a rock at high water, after having looked into Rochelle. [Hampshire Chronicle, 12 August 1797]

On the 31st ult, about eight in the morning, the Artois struck on the shoal off the Isle of Rhe, on the French coast, and very soon beat her rudder off. At ten AM, about high water, she got over the rocks; but being unmanageable, her head went on shore, and she struck again, being then about two miles from shore, and out of reach of the enemy’s forts. The captain’s intention was to remain by her till the next high water, which would be about ten in the morning, but a French squadron which then lay in Basque Road (within three leagues of the Artois), getting under weigh, Sir J B Warren made the signal for quitting and destroying the ship. The Sylph brig was sent to receive the men; and we are happy to say, that not one was lost, though many suffered in their property. The last boat quitted the ship between three and four in the afternoon, and soon afterwards she was all in a blaze. About nine in the evening she blew up. [Hampshire Chronicle, 19 August 1797]

A court martial, pro forma, is ordered to be held on board the Royal William, the port-admiral’s flag-ship at Spithead, on Sir Edward Nagel, captain of the Artois frigate, of 38 guns, and his officers, on account of her loss on the French coast. The Artois was but three and a half years old, being launched from Mr Weller’s private dock yard at Rotherhithe, in January 1794. She was built in lieu of the frigate of the same name taken from the French in 1780, by the Romney of 50 guns, on a cruize off the Rock of Lisbon. [Hampshire Chronicle, 19 August 1797]

Posted by Jude de angulo on Tuesday 11th of November 2025 22:15

re John Davis as midshipman then lieutenant on HMSs Active and Artois - these facts are recorded in John Davis's book "Four years and a Half in the United States of America" and in Thelma Kellogg's "Life and Works of John Davis 1774- 1853".

Posted by Cy on Thursday 8th of September 2022 07:48

There are 5 separate lieutenant John Davis' recorded as serving in the Royal Navy. However none were commissioned earlier than January 1799, so if he was a lieutenant on the Artois it can only have been in a temporary 'acting' role.

Posted by jude de angulo on Thursday 8th of September 2022 02:07

The author of the 1805 naval novel Wooden Walls Well Manned ( aka Post Captain) John Davis was a midshipman aboard HMS Artois, rising to the rank of lieutenant before it was wrecked on the Ile de Rei. WWWM/CP is considered the premier popular naval novel that sparked the genre; its format being imitated by Frederick Marryat, Patrick O'Brian, and of course C S Forester.