HMS Zenobia (1806)

HMS Zenobia was a schooner of the Adonis class of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic War. She was built and completed at Bermuda using Bermudan cedar in 1806 and commissioned under Lieutenant Archibald Hamilton. She sailed for Norfolk, Virginia, on 22 October.

One week later she sighted the American coast and a pilot came aboard. Unfortunately, the pilot mistook a fisherman's light on False Cape Henry for the light on Cape Henry and next morning she grounded twenty miles south of Cape Henry. Despite the assistance from the shore and several Royal Navy vessels, Hamilton was unable to refloat her. The desertion to shore of 18 of her 24-man crew did not help. Hamilton and his remaining crew abandoned the wreck on 6 December.

Postscript
Zenobia's deserters helped provoke what became known as the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. On 22 June 1807 HMS Leopard (1790) pursued, attacked and boarded American frigate USS Chesapeake (1799) looking for deserters from the British Navy, including those from Zenobia.