History Comes to Life on the High Seas

The earliest tales of civilization can be traced back to activities on the high sea, wars and voyages alike. Brigs are one of the most common sea vessels that consistently appear throughout history, irrespective of location and culture.

Brigs are ships with two square-rigged masts that were predominantly used as warships and survey vessels in the latter part of the 18th century. Brigs dominated British waterways until merchants opted for more cost-effective vessels. After that, however, they remained prominent in the military.

HMS Badger

The Napoleonic Wars and Horatio Nelson’s heroics have one thing in common: this historical sailing ship. Despite having notable commanders steer it, the HMS Badger’s specifications didn’t enjoy the same level of documentation. Some say she was a 12-gun ship, but there was space enough for 16. The Badger lasted only five years in the Royal Navy’s employ, from 1777 to 1783.

USS Argus

The USS Argus played a vital role in the First Barbary War; she partook in the Blockade of Tripoli. She weighed 299 tons with two 12-pounder guns and 16 24-pounder carronades on deck. She was a powerful vessel that raided British merchants regularly during the War of 1812. However, the sailing ship met her waterloo at the hands of the titanic Cruizer class brig-sloop, the Pelican.

USS Niagara

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led the Americans to victory against the Brits in the Battle of Lake Erie on the USS Niagara. The Niagara displaced a mammoth weighing 302 tons and had 18 32-pounder carronades and two 12-pounder long guns aboard her deck. In 1820, the Niagara was sunk so that it could be preserved on Presque Isle. She has since resurfaced and undergone substantial renovation. However, there are rumors that the Niagara we now know is a replica.

Pilgrim

The Pilgrim is the famous sailing ship referenced in Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s memoir, Two Years Before the Mast, a recollection of his time aboard the ship while sailing from Massachusetts to California. Sprague & James built the Pilgrim in 1825, measuring 86.5 feet and 180.5 tons between the outer stem and the sternpost. Her sailing days ended 31 years later, in 1856, due to an on-sea fire incident that led to its sinking.

Mercury

If the sailing world had a pub for gallantry tales, the Mercury would be unparalleled in fame. The 20-gun two-mast warship outsailed and outgunned two 110-gun and 74-gun Turkish warships. One of the greatest marine painters and artists, Ivan Aivanzovsky, painted the Mercury twice; in 1848 and 1892 — a stamp on the brig’s legendary status.

USS Reprisal

The 1776 brig marked the beginning of the Reprisal nomenclature. Its sole purpose was retaliatory attacks during the American Revolution. The Reprisal was originally a merchant ship named Molly before its acquisition and was later renamed in 1776. The USS Reprisal sank off Newfoundland’s banks 18 months later with only the cook of the 129 aboard surviving.

HMS Beagle

The Cherokee-class HMS Beagle is one of Britain’s most famous warships; it was the first warship to sail beneath the old London bridge. As a sailing ship, the HMS Beagle welcomed the young Charles Darwin on board during its second voyage between 1831 and 1836. Going from warship to survey vessel, the Beagle had its crew and gun-number changes over time. From 120 to 65+9 for the former, and from 10 to 6 for the latter. She lived out her final days as a coast guard vessel as part of a smuggling-crackdown operation.

The HMS Speedy was a 14-gun Speedy-class brig of the British Royal Navy, built near the end of the American War of Independence. She was a small vessel for her class, but served with distinction during the French Revolutionary Wars. Lord Cochrane made his name while commanding the HMS Speedy proving to be a thorn in the side of the French and Spanish navies. Eventually, a French squadron captured her in 1801 and she presented to the pope by Napoleon himself to be a part of the Papal Navy.