HMS Rose (1783)

Fate

Rose, under the command of Captain Matthew Scott, left Port Royal, Jamaica on 26 June. The next day she encountered a merchant vessel that passed on the news that Admiral Sir John Jervis and his fleet were off Basse Terre, which news led Scott to attempt to meet up with them. The night of 28 June was dark, and rain squalls hid the sound of breakers, with the result that at 9pm Rose hit a reef off Rocky Point, Jamaica. The crew threw guns overboard and cut away her anchors, top masts and mizen-mast, all in a futile attempt to lighten her and get her off the rocks. In the morning, as she filled with water, her crew abandoned ship in her boats and on rafts they fashioned out of booms and spars.