HMS Thunder was an 8-gun bomb vessel of the Royal Navy, previously the mercantile Dasher. Dasher, launched at Bideford in 1800, had made two voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people before the Royal Navy purchased her in 1803 and renamed her HMS Thunder. Thunder served in the Mediterranean and the Baltic; among other actions, she participated in a battle and one single-ship action, each of which resulted in her crew later qualifying for clasps to the Naval General Service Medal (1847). The Navy sold her in 1814.
Slave ship
Dasher was launched at Bideford. She first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1800 with T. Phillips, master, Phillips & Co., owners, and trade Liverpool–Africa.
Captain Thomas Phillips acquired a letter of marque on 24 October. He sailed from Liverpool on 14 November. Dasher acquired captives at the Congo River and arrived at Trinidad on 15 October 1801, where she landed some 300 captives. She arrived back at Liverpool on 24 January 1802.
LR for 1803 gave the name of Dashers master as Hamilton, and her owner as Sime & Co. Her trade was now London–Africa.
Captain Hance Hamilton sailed from London on 1 June 1802. Because he sailed during the Peace of Amiens he did not acquire a letter of marque. Dasher arrived at Havana on 1 December 1802 and there landed 322 captives. She arrived back at London on 11 April 1803.
Royal Navy
In April 1803, War with France had just resumed and the Royal Navy needed small warships to escort convoys and combat privateers. The Navy purchased Dasher in October 1803. She underwent fitting for a bomb vessel at Deptford Dockyard between 1 November 1803 and 10 February 1804. Commander George Cocks commissioned her for the Mediterranean in December 1803.
On 13 April 1805, Thunder captured Africano.
On 17 November, Thunder detained the Prussian ship Minerva, of one gun, six men and 200 tons (bm). Minerva was sailing from Barcelona to Embden with a cargo of brandy. Ten days later, Thunder detained the Swedish ship St. Jean, of two guns, eight men, and 150 tons (bm). St Jean had been sailing from Vigo to Stralsund with cocoa and fish when Thunder captured her off Malaga.
In 1806, Thunder was in the Mediterranean. On 21 January, she captured Comercium. Between 7 and 21 February, Thunder sent two Danish vessels into Gibraltar: the brig Commerce, Broadson, master, which had been sailing from Alicante to Amsterdam, and Victoriosa, Roche, master, which had been sailing from Alicante to Leghorn. Comercium and Commerce were probably the same vessel.
Next, Thunder detained Fremde Soshende, Thompson, master, which had been sailing from Malaga to Embden, and sent her into Gibraltar. This may have been Suskinders, or Trende Soskinders, which Thunder had detained on 24 March. His Majesty granted Thunder two-thirds of the value of the prize. Thunder also received two-thirds for Frau Anna Margaretha, detained on 30 April, and for Foderns Bestlutning, detained on 5 May.
On 27 April 1806, Beagle and a number of other vessels were in company with Termagant when Termagant captured the Anna Maria Carolina.
On 1 May, Thunder detained Flora.
LL reported on 6 June that Thunder had detained two Danish ships and sent them into Gibraltar. Fortune, Tasmar, master, had been coming from Galipoli and was bound for Copenhagen. Harmony, Fisher, master, had been coming from Leghorn and was bound for Stettin.
Between 16 and 11 May Thunder detained five Danish vessels that she sent into Gibraltar: Charlotta, Smit, master, from St Remo to Hambro Constitution?, from Cette to Stettin Catharina, Yenson, master, from Gallipoly to Hambro Two Brothers, Krog, master, from Civita Vechia to Caen Adjuzor?, from Cette to Stettin
On 21 May, Thunder detained Three Ladies, Jensen, master, which had been sailing from Gallipoly to stettin, and sent her into Gibraltar. and were in company with Thunder at the capture of Trende Damen (Three Ladies). Thunder and Dextereous shared in the prize money for Trende Brodre, also captured on 21 May.
Thunder also detained Catharina and Alexander on 20 and 23 May.
On 9 June, Thunder captured John Joachim and on 11 June Anna Margaretha.
Later in the year Thunder detained and sent into Gibraltar the Danish vessel Louisa, Martins, master. Louisa had been sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona.