Name Patrikii Name María Isabel Captured 20 October 1818 Length 49 m | Fate Sold to Spain Acquired 17 August 1817 Launched 3 July 1816 Weight 1,220 tons | |
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Builder Shipyard in Arkhangelsk | ||
O'Higgins was a Chilean frigate famous for her actions under Captain Lord Cochrane.
Contents
Russian career
The ship was launched in Russia in 1816, as the Speshni-class frigate Patrikii ("Патрикий"). To save time and money, the Russians built her of pine and larch. In 1817 the Russians sold her to Spain, which renamed her María Isabel.
Spanish career
In 1818 María Isabel sailed under Captain Dionisio Capas with a convoy to the coast of Peru. There the First Chilean Navy Squadron, under the command of Manuel Blanco Encalada, captured her at Talcahuano.
Chilean career
The Chileans renamed the ship O'Higgins after Bernardo O'Higgins, the South American Independence leader and first Chilean head of state.
She was Thomas Cochrane's flagship when he commanded the Chilean navy during the Freedom Expedition of Perú. He also sailed her to Acapulco.
In 1823, after a conservative coup on 28 January deposed O'Higgins, the new government under Ramón Freire) renamed the frigate María Isabel again.
Argentine career
She was sold to Argentina on 1 April 1826 and refitted in Valparaíso and renamed Buenos Aires, but she never reached Buenos Aires. She sank rounding Cape Horn.