Ship of the line of the French Navy
HMS "Genoa was a 74-gun ship of the line laid down for the French Navy as Brillant" which the British captured incomplete while still on slip at the fall of Genoa in 1814. She was completed for the Royal Navy and served as HMS "Genoa" until 1838. On 20 October 1827 "Genoa" took part in the Battle of Navarino where her captain Walter Bathurst was killed.
Service.
Capture.
"Brillant" was constructed at Genoa between February 1812 and April 1815, as the city had been annexed by France in 1805. On 18 April 1814 she was captured while still in construction by an invading British squadron commanded by Captain Sir Josias Rowley. She was completed by the Royal Navy as HMS "Genoa" and launched on 18 April 1815.
Royal Navy career.
"Genoa" sailed for Britain after her launching and arrived at Chatham on 13 October 1815. From September 1816 to February 1818 "Genoa" underwent repairs to configure her as a British ship instead of the French one she was constructed as. Her first role was as guard ship at Chatham from 18 May until October 1821 under Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland. "Genoa" was then commissioned on 3 October under Captain Sir Thomas Livingstone to serve on the Lisbon Station, which she did until 1825. While off Lisbon, Captain William Cumberland assumed command in October 1824, and in turn was replaced by Captain Walter Bathurst who by 27 May 1825 had "Genoa" as part of the Mediterranean Fleet.
On 20 October 1827 "Genoa" and the fleet took part in the Battle of Navarino. "Genoa" received heavy fire during the battle in her role supporting the flagship HMS "Asia", resulting in high casualty numbers. The enemy Turks fired their guns high into "Genoa", killing so many Royal Marines on the poop deck that they were forced to retreat to the lower quarterdeck to lessen their casualties. She had the most men killed during the battle of the British ships present, twenty six, including Captain Bathurst. Bathurst was injured early on by a large splinter lacerating his face, and was later killed by a round shot. Command of "Genoa" during the battle then devolved to her second captain, Commander Richard Dickinson. Admiral Edward Codrington described "Genoa"'s manoeuvres to assist his flagship during the battle as 'beautiful'. Captain Charles Leonard Irby was appointed by Codrington to take "Genoa" home in the place of Bathurst, and by November she had arrived at Plymouth.
"Genoa" was paid off in January 1828 before becoming a receiving ship between 1833 and 1837. She was broken up at Plymouth in January 1838.
Notes.
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Citations.
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