title: HMS Skylark (1826)
text: # HMS Skylark (1826)
  
  HMS Skylark was a 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloop built for the Royal Navy during the 1820s. She was wrecked in 1845.
  
  ## Construction and description
  
  Skylark, the second ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy, was ordered on 25 March 1823, laid down in May 1825 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 6 June 1826. She was completed on 22 February 1827 at Plymouth Dockyard.
  
  Skylark had a length at the gundeck of 90 feet (27.4 m) and 73 feet 3 inches (22.3 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 24 feet 11 inches (7.6 m), a draught of about 9 feet 4 inches (2.8 m) and a depth of hold of 11 feet (3.4 m). The ship's tonnage was 234 67/94 tons burthen. The Cherokee class was armed with two 6-pounder cannon and eight 18-pounder carronades. The ships had a crew of 52 officers and ratings.
  
  ## Career
  
  The Royal Navy had taken over the Post Office Packet Service and she became a Falmouth packet.
  
  On 25 March 1842, Skylark was driven ashore at Greenock, Renfrewshire. She was refloated and taken into port.
  
  ## Fate
  
  On 25 April 1845, Skylark was driven ashore and wrecked at St Alban's Head, Dorset. Her crew survived.
  
  