HMS Wizard (1830)

HMS Wizard was a 10-gun built for the Royal Navy during the 1820s. She was wrecked in 1859.

Description

The Cherokee-class brig-sloops were designed by Henry Peake, they were nicknamed 'coffin brigs' for the large number that either wrecked or foundered in service, but modern analysis has not revealed any obvious design faults. They were probably sailed beyond their capabilities by inexperienced captains tasked to perform arduous and risky duties. Whatever their faults, they were nimble; quick to change tack and, with a smaller crew, more economical to run. Wizard displaced and measured long at the gundeck. She had a beam of, a depth of hold of, a deep draught of and a tonnage of 231 tons burthen. The ships had a complement of 52 men when fully manned, but only 33 as a packet ship. The armament of the Cherokee class consisted of ten muzzle-loading, smoothbore guns: eight carronades and two guns positioned in the bow for use as chase guns.

Construction and career

Wizard was ordered on 28 October 1826 and laid down in October 1829 at Pembroke Dockyard. The ship was launched on 24 May 1830 and was fitted out 15 June 1837 in ordinary. She was not commissioned until April 1837. On 29 May 1855, Wizard ran aground at Cork. She lay on her beam ends overnight and was refloated the next day.
On 8 February 1859, whilst acting as a tender to, Wizard was wrecked on the Seal Rock, in Bantry Bay. Her crew were rescued by.