HMS Blossom (1806)

HMS Blossom was an 18-gun Cormorant-class sloop-of-war. She was built in 1806 and is best known for the 1825–1828 expedition under Captain Beechey to the Pacific Ocean. She explored as far north as Point Barrow, Alaska, the furthest point into the Arctic any non-Inuit had been at the time. She was finally broken up in 1848.

Napoleonic Wars
On 26 February 1808 Blossom was in company with Eclipse when they captured the Sally and Hetty, William Fleming, Master. Blossom was in company with Jamaica when they recaptured the American brig Iris.

In the mid-morning of 23 February 1812, Blossom was five leagues off Cabrera when a strange schooner sailed towards her, mistaking her for a merchantman. When the schooner realized her mistake a five-hour chase followed before Blossom was able to capture the schooner Jean Bart. Jean Bart was of 147.5 tons (bm) and had been launched in Marseilles only five weeks earlier. She was armed with five 12 and two 6-pounder guns, and had a crew of 106 men under the command of Jean Francis Coulome. She had made no captures but within the previous five days her excellent sailing had enabled her to evade two British frigates and a brig.

Post-war
Blossom was re-rated as a 24-gun sixth rate in February 1817. She was converted to serve as an exploration ship in 1825, and on her return used as a survey ship from 1829.

Fate
Blossom was hulked as a lazarette at Sheerness in January 1833, and was broken up at Chatham in August 1848.

Sources and references

 * Sources


 * References
 * Ships of discovery and exploration, by Lincoln P. Paine
 * Earliest Records of the Islands Their Discovery by Captain Beechey, H.M.S. "Blossom"
 * Mid-Victorian RN vessel HMS Blossom
 * Ships of discovery and exploration, by Lincoln P. Paine
 * Earliest Records of the Islands Their Discovery by Captain Beechey, H.M.S. "Blossom"
 * Mid-Victorian RN vessel HMS Blossom