HMS Redbridge (1804)

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Redbridge
Acquired	1804 by purchase
Fate	Wrecked 4 November 1806
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen	131 (bm)
Sail plan	Schooner
Armament	10 guns

HMS Redbridge was the mercantile schooner Union that the Royal Navy purchased in 1804. She wrecked at Nassau, Bahamas in November 1806.

She was registered on 10 September 1805. Lieutenant Edward Burt commissioned her.

On 11 July 1806 Redbridge was in company with the privateer Fanny when they captured the American brig Stork.^[2] At some point Burt was shot through the hand while chasing a privateer into a port in Cuba.^[3]

Redbridge was wrecked at Nassau on 4 November 1806.^[1] She had sailed from New Providence Bahamas in company with Gipsy, but when Gipsy developed a leak the two captains decided to put in at Nassau. Redbridge anchored and Lieutenant Burt went ashore to speak with the Governor. While he was ashore the pilot and master tried to move Redbridge to a better anchorage. Redbridge hit a rock, bilged, and rolled on her side. Her masts were cut away but all that could be done was to remove her crew. Next morning Redbridge was abandoned as a wreck.^[4] The subsequent court-martial exonerated Burt.^[3]

• Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
• O'Byrne, William R. (1849). A naval biographical dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty's navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive. Vol. 1. London: J. Murray.
• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.