HMS Eclipse was a Royal Navy built by John King at Dover and launched in 1807. She served off Portugal and then in the Indian Ocean at the capture of the Île de France. Shortly thereafter she captured Tamatave. She was sold for mercantile service in 1815. She traded with India until 1823. Then between 1823 and 1845 she made seven voyages as a whaler.
Naval service
Eclipse entered naval service in September 1807 under Commander John Douglas. In December Captain George A. Creyke took command immediately sailed her for the Portuguese coast on 2 January 1808. There Eclipse observed the seizure of Oporto by the French and the subsequent uprising that led to the First Battle of Oporto. Creyke rescued several of the French administrators from death at the hands of the populace by taking the administrators prisoner. He also mounted cannon on a Brazilian ship in the harbour to create a floating battery, under a British officer, to defend a bridge, should the French advance.
On 26 February 1808 Eclipse was in company with when they captured the Sally and Hetty, William Fleming, Master. Then on 3 March Eclipse sailed for the Leeward Islands. On 7 March , with Eclipse and Blossom in company, captured the Hetty.
On 29 May 1808 she captured the American ship Romeo. It is not clear on what grounds she seized the American vessel, but prize money was awarded.
Prior to 4 February 1810 she recaptured Unanimity. That same day, she and also recaptured Dobridge and Hercules. Hercules, Duncan, master, which had been sailing from Malta to London when she was captured on 3 February, came into Plymouth on 8 February.
Command then passed to George Henderson who sailed Eclipse to the Indian Ocean, leaving on 16 June. There she joined the squadron that successfully prepared and launched the Invasion of Île de France in December 1810.
Henderson was subsequently promoted to command the frigate Nereide, and Eclipse remained in the Indian Ocean. From December on she was under the command of Commander Henry Lynne.
Eclipse arrived at Tamatave , Madagascar, on 17 February 1811 with a detachment of soldiers of the 22nd Regiment of Foot as the British were desirous of occupying the area as it was a source of provisions and cattle for Île de France, which they were about to attack. was in company with Eclipse and also carrying troops. They landed their troops, and Duchess of York took off the French garrison. The next day the troops of the 22nd Regiment and of the Bourbon rifle corps, having taken Tamatave, also took Foule Point, the last French settlements on the east coast of Madagascar. However, a sudden wind parted Duchess of York from her anchor. She was seen going down in deep water and observers believed that she had struck a rock. All aboard were lost.
Somewhere around this time Eclipse reportedly captured a French letter of marque brig with dispatches. In 1811 she also captured the Maria Louisa, and recaptured Donna Emilia, with in company.
By March Eclipse was under the command of Commander W. Steed. By agreement, Eclipse and shared in the prize money for the capture of the Renommée on 20 May 1811 at the Battle of Tamatave, and one week later of the Néréide.
On 5 January 1812 Eclipse, again with Racehorse in company, took the lugger Eliza with 145 slaves, which she sent to the Cape of Good Hope. Around February arrived from the Cape of Good Hope to relieve Eclipse.
On 9 September 1812 Eclipse arrived in Portsmouth from the Cape of Good Hope. She sailed for the Leeward Islands on 6 February 1813. There she captured the American brig Olive Branch, of Connecticut, and sent her into St Vincents.
Eclipse was in company with when, on 13 March 1814, they captured the brigantine Admiral Martin, which they sent in to Antigua. On 14 March Eclipse, Bustard, and captured the schooner Ann and sent her into St Thomas.
Disposal: In 1815 Eclipse was laid up at Woolwich. On 24 January the Admiralty offered her for sale and on 31 August she was sold there for £1,400 for mercantile use.
Commercial service
E. Burford purchased her on 31 August 1831. Lloyd's Register for 1816 shows an Eclipse, Dover-built, nine years old, and 391 tons (bm). This vessel continued in commercial service for a number of years.
She appears to have traded with India until 1823 when William and Daniel Bennett purchased her for use as a whaler.
Whaler
From 1823 on Eclipse made seven voyages as a whaler, the last one ending in June 1846.
