HMS Orestes (1824)
HMS Orestes was a 18-gun sloop built and launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in May 1824.[1] The vessel became the fifth ship to carry the name Orestes, named after the Greek mythological figure who was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Ordered on 21 May 1821 and laid down in April 1823,[2] the sloop was designed by shipbuilder, James Inman.[3]
Career
[edit]Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1826-1830
[edit]HMS Orestes did not encounter any conflict whilst at Halifax, Nova Scotia,[4] spending most of its stationing delivering supplies to Miramichi, Canada and mail to Bermuda.[5]
Portuguese Civil War, 1832
[edit]HMS Orestes was part of a naval squadron[6] sent to Portugal to protect British trade interests and its citizens, following the beginnings of conflict between Dom Pedro and his brother, Dom Miguel in what became known as the Portuguese Civil War (Liberal Wars).[7]
Under the command of Captain William Nugent Glascock, HMS Orestes and the rest of the naval squadron were stationed on the Douro, an area key to the conflict. The positioning of the squadron meant naval vessels faced dangers both sides, leaving them vulnerable to being caught in the cross fire of the conflict.
Cape of Good Hope Station, 1848-1852
[edit]HMS Orestes spent a short time on the Cape of Good Hope Station, South Africa, protecting British colonial interests with India.[8]
Figurehead
[edit]The figurehead of Orestes is a simple male bust wearing a helmet, tunic and classical armour to represent the Greek figure of the same name.
It was most likely carved by either James Edward Hellyer, or his son James, both of whom were resident carvers at Portsmouth Dockyard at the time of the sloop's build.[9] However, no design or cost records survive that reveal who the carver was.
The myth of Orestes has no connection to the ocean or water of any kind and is instead one of murder and revenge against his mother and her lover who took the life of his father, Agamemnon.[10]
One possible motive for choosing the name Orestes was that the Royal Navy already possessed an HMS Apollo, built in 1805. In the Greek mythology, Apollo is the patron of Orestes, purifying him after he commits matricide.[11]
HMS Orestes can be seen on display as party of a larger collection at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth.[12] It can also be viewed alongside other figureheads within the collection on the Bloomberg Connects website[13] and app.
Conversion
[edit]In 1852, the sloop was converted from sail to steam, becoming a coal depot and losing the name ‘Orestes’ to become C28. The ship was later sold in 1911 for commercial use.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "HMS Orestes". www.pdavis.nl. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "British sloop 'Orestes' (1824)". threedecks.org. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "James Inman (1776-1859)". threedecks.org. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "Individual pages for: HMS Orestes". archive.ukho.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "HMS Orestes". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "ORESTES (18) [1824]". www.ageofnelson.org. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "The Portuguese Navy and the Liberal Wars". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "HMS Orestes". www.pdavis.nl. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Pulvertaft, David (2009). The Warship Figureheads of Portsmouth (1st Colour ed.). UK: The History Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0752450766.
- ^ "Orestes | Aegisthus, Clytemnestra & Electra | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "Apollo | Facts, Symbols, Powers, & Myths | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-07-24. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "Discover the Royal Navy like never before | National Museum of the Royal Navy". www.nmrn.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "National Museum of the Royal Navy | Bloomberg Connects". guides.bloombergconnects.org. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Pulvertaft, David (2009). The Warship Figureheads of Portsmouth (1st Colour ed.). The History Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0752450766.