HMS Hinchinbrook was a sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, originally built as the French privateer Astrée in 1778 at Nantes. She was a sizable vessel, described as displacing approximately 650 tons, and armed with 14 guns when captured. Her construction featured the typical design of a merchant vessel adapted for naval service, emphasizing her role as a versatile warship during her brief career. Captured off Cape François on 13 October 1778 by a British squadron under Captain Joseph Deane in HMS Ruby, Astrée was taken into British custody and purchased for £5,650 on 1 December 1778. The Admiralty renamed her HMS Hinchinbrook, in honor of Viscount Hinchinbroke. Initially intended to be upgraded to a 32-gun fifth-rate, she ultimately served as a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate with a crew of around 200 men. Her commissioning began in December 1778 at Jamaica, under Commander Christopher Parker, before passing to Captain Charles Nugent and subsequently to Captain Horatio Nelson in September 1779. Under Nelson’s command, Hinchinbrook undertook a notable expedition supporting British efforts to capture Spanish colonies in Central America. She was stationed in the San Juan River from January to April 1780, supporting troop movements and participating in the assault on Fort San Juan. Nelson’s leadership during this campaign was marked by direct action, including leading sailors to seize the outpost of San Bartholomew. The expedition suffered heavy casualties—about 140 of her 200 crew members succumbed to disease and combat, and Nelson himself fell ill, necessitating withdrawal. After Nelson’s departure, command changed hands several times, including Captain Cuthbert Collingwood and Captain Charles Hotchkys, reflecting the challenging environment of the West Indies. In January 1782, under Lieutenant John Markham, Hinchinbrook was tasked with protecting Jamaican trade. Her service ended abruptly when she ran aground on a reef near Port Royal on 20 January 1782, shortly after departing port. Despite efforts to save her, she sank that night, with her guns and stores salvaged before her loss. Her anchor remains as a roadside marker in Priory, Saint Ann's Bay, serving as a maritime memorial of her brief but active service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.