HMS Tonnant (1792)
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HMS Tonnant was a 3rd rate ship of the line of 80 guns, built in 1792 as the French ship Tonnant ("Thundering"). She fought in the battles of Genoa (14 March 1795) and the Nile (1 August 1798), where she was captured by the British. At the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) she was commanded by Captain Charles Tyler and captured the French ship Algesiras of 74 guns.
In the War of 1812 she was commanded by Capt. Wainwright, and was the flagship for Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane during most of the campaign in the Chesapeake Bay, directing the attacks on Washington and Baltimore, and the Battle of New Orleans. It was aboard the Tonnant that the Americans, Col. John Stuart Skinner and Francis Scott Key, dined with VAdm. Cochrane, RAdm. Sir George Cockburn and Major General Robert Ross, where they negotiated the release of a prisoner, Dr. William Beanes. After the release of Dr. Beanes, Skinner, Key and Beanes were allowed to return to their own sloop, but were not allowed to return to Baltimore because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and of the British intention to attack Baltimore. As a result of this, Key witnessed the bombarding of Ft. McHenry and was inspired to write a poem entitled "The Defense of Ft. McHenry", later named "The Star Bangled Banner".
She was also the flagship for Admiral Lord Keith when she partipated in the exiling of Napolean to St. Helena in 1815.
She was broken up in 1821.
See HMS Tonnant for other ships of this name.
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