French ship Hautpoult (1807)


Hautpoult was a 74-gun French Navy ship of the line.

French service

On 16 February 1809 Captain Amand Leduc, Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, commanded Hautpoult on her maiden voyage, a mission to Martinique with reinforcements and supplies, as flagship of a squadron of three 74-gun ships. Learning of the capture of Martinique, Troude's squadron turned back but were pursued by the British.
Hautpoult was captured by her now-British sister ship,, on 17 April 1809, after a chase over three nights and two days by Pompée,, and. Recruit hung on the tail of the French squadron and managed to cripple Hautpoults mizzen mast, so Pompée could bring her to action and capture her after exchanging fire for 75 minutes. Between 80 and 90 men from Hautpoult were killed or wounded, including several officers.

British service

Taken as a prize, she was renamed Abercrombie, and was briefly given to the commander of Recruit, Charles Napier, who was made post captain for his part in the action, as acting captain. Captain Sir William Fahie of Pompée, who had fallen ill after capturing her, then replaced Napier.
Abercrombie also participated in the capture of Guadeloupe in January and February 1810. In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Guadaloupe" to all surviving participants of the campaign.
While she was at anchor in Basque Roads on 26 October 1811, lightning damaged her fore topmast and foremast.
On 17 July 1813 Abercrombie, under the command of Captain William Charles Fahie, shared the proceeds of the capture of Union with.

Fate

Abercrombie was sold in 1817.