In this charming panorama of an English squadron lying off the island in 1805, Thomas Buttersworthhas depicted the ships under the command of one of the navy's most colourful characters, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, Bt.
Troubridge's rather elderly flagship, the Blenheim, was a second rate of 90-guns built at Woolwich and completed in 1761. After a long career, including participation in the Seven Years' War (1756-63), the American War of Independence (1776-83) and the French Revolutionary War (1793-1801), she was docked at Chatham and 'cut down' to a third rate of 74-guns. Recommissioned after completion for service in the North Sea and then the West Indies, she hoisted Troubridge's flag in March 1805 and sailed for the East Indies the following month. Calling at Funchal to victual and water in May 1805, Buttersworth has captured perhaps a final image of her as she foundered with all hands, including Troubridge and her commander Captain Bissell, in a storm off Rodrigues Island, in the Indian Ocean, on or about 1st March 1807. H.M.S. Greyhound was a 32-gun frigate built at Mistleythorn, Essex, and laid down in January 1782.
Not completed until the American War of Independence was over, she nevertheless served withdistinction throughout the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars until assigned to Troubridge'ssquadron sailing for the East Indies in April 18085. After the capture of several enemy vessels, she took part in the unsuccessful search operations for H.M.S. Blenheim but was herself wrecked off the Philippines on 4th October 1808.
H.M.S. Harrier was a 'Cruizer' class brig-sloop of 18 guns built at Deptford and launched in August 1804. Completed for service in the East India Squadron, she too enjoyed several successes before being lost, presumed foundered with all hands, in the Indian Ocean on March 1809.
Despite the demise of all three ships depicted here within four years, it seems probable that this workwas commissioned by an officer who had accompanied the squadron on the voyage out but who,upon arrival in the East Indies, had transferred into another ship.