La Princesa (1778)

Martínez takes Colnett prisoner in 1789, La Princesa, far right in the picture
History
Spanish Navy EnsignSpain
NameLa Princesa
BuilderSan Blas Shipyards
Laid down1777
Launched1778
General characteristics
Class and typeFrigate or corvette
Tons burthen189
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement98
Armament6 x 4 pounds (1.8 kg) cannons, 4 x 3 pounds (1.4 kg) cannons (1779); 26 cannons (1789)

La Princesa (also called Princesa, also known as Nuestra Señora del Rosario[1]) was a Spanish frigate or corvette built at the Spanish naval base at San Blas and launched in 1778. She is sometimes called a frigate and sometimes a corvette. At the time a corvette was similar to a frigate in that both were three-masted, ship-rigged warships, but corvettes were slightly smaller and had a single deck instead of two. The exact specifications of La Princesa are not known. La Princesa was designed with storage enough to sail for a year without having to restock. She was built for durability rather than speed. Like La Favorita, a similar corvette stationed at San Blas, La Princesa was heavily used, serving for over three decades, playing an important role in the exploration of the Pacific Northwest as well as the routine work of provisioning the missions of Alta California. During her 1779 voyage the Princesa carried six four-pounder cannons and four three-pounders, and had a crew complement of 98.[2] The Princesa carried 26 cannons in 1789 when Esteban José Martínez took control of Nootka Sound.[3]

  1. ^ Spanish Place Names on the Face of Alaska, ExploreNorth.com
  2. ^ Tovell, Freeman M. (2008). At the Far Reaches of Empire: The Life of Juan Francisco De La Bodega Y Quadra. University of British Columbia Press. pp. 59, 62, 68, 379. ISBN 978-0-7748-1367-9.
  3. ^ Nokes, J. Richard (1998). Almost a hero: the voyages of John Meares, R.N., to China, Hawaii, and the Northwest Coast. Washington State University Press. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-0-87422-155-8. Retrieved 27 July 2012.