HMS Maeander (1840)

HMS Maeander was a Seringapatam-class frigate sailing frigate of the British Royal Navy. Her service included the suppression of piracy, the Russian War, and support for the suppression of slavery with the West Africa Squadron. She was wrecked in a gale in 1870.

Career
Maeander was launched at Chatham Dockyard on 5 May 1840. From 1 November 1847 to 1851 her captain was Henry Keppel. United States Army Lieutenant George H. Derby, in his "Report of the Expedition of the U.S. Transport Invincible" notes that Keppel with the Maeander was in the Mexican port of Guaymas on 5 February 1851. The Maeander served in the East Indies, cooperating with James Brooke in the suppression of piracy, and then in Australia and the Pacific. On 14 July 1852 Captain Charles Talbot took command of Maeander. On 30 May 1854 Captain Thomas Baillie took command. She served in the White Sea in 1855 during the Crimean War.

On 2 December 1856, James Robert Drummond was appointed captain of Maeander, for coast guard service. In 1859 she was commanded by Commander Malcolm MacGregor.

In 1860 her armament was reduced to ten guns as part of her conversion into a stores' ship. She then joined the West Africa Squadron at Ascension Island as a replacement for HMS Tortoise.

From 1 November 1859 to July 1861 she was under the command of Captain William Farquharson Burnett. On 23 February 1861 Captain Frederick Lamport Barnard took command. From 24 December 1864 to January 1866 her commander was Captain Joseph Grant Bickford.

Fate
In July 1870 Maeander was wrecked in a gale. Her remains are at 14 metres in position -7.9125°N, -14.40667°W, bows on to the shore. She lies on her port side and has opened up. Timber, copper sheathing, knees supporting her gun deck and the tiller have been located.

Memorials
A memorial tablet to the men of Maeander killed between 1848-51 can be seen at St Ann's Church, HMNB Portsmouth.