Loss HMS Persian (1809)

the wreck of majesty s sloop persian , philip john ouless, jersey heritage trust

on 3 april 1813, persian sailed west indies, still under bertram s command. on 16 june wrecked on silver cays (or keys) bank, north of island of hispaniola, after having set out port-au-prince earlier day. persian ran aground while pursuing american privateer schooner saucy jack, captained john p. chazal out of charleston, sc. bertram tried lighten persian throwing guns , stores overboard result floated off, hit reef. eventually, despite crew s exertions, broke , foundered. on 27 june crew crowded 4 boats (a makeshift raft broke apart) , on 28 june came ashore between cabo frances (formerly called cap français) , cabo cabron in san domingo. none of crew of 126 men lost. however, 11 seamen took advantage of opportunity desert navy.

bertram , part of crew arrived @ saint thomas s on 23 july aboard sloop governor hodgson, darrell, master, had been sailing porto plate.

the court martial, under captain frederick lewis maitland, convened in goliath @ saints in october determined loss result of either strong southerly current setting @ rate of 4 knots or admiralty charts showed shoals 20 miles far south. court praised conduct of bertram, officers , crew. bertram received promotion post captain on 7 june 1814, never served again.