HMS PRINCE REGENT, General Beresford, Netley
The HMS PRINCE REGENT, also known as the General Beresford and the Netley, was a war ship and schooner that played a role in the War of 1812. The wreck of this historic vessel was discovered in Navy Bay at Kingston during a period of low water. The ship was launched in Toronto’s government shipyard in the spring of 1800 and was the only sailing fighting ship ever built in the city.
Equipped with two masts and a schooner rig, the Prince Regent carried ten short-range 12-pounder carronades on each side, along with two long-range 6-pounder guns, one in the bow and one in the stern. Its armament was later upgraded to include long nines and short eighteens, and possibly a long thirty-two or twenty-four cannon. Although its armament was lighter compared to some American ships, such as the brig Oneida, the Prince Regent had excellent sailing capabilities.
The Prince Regent served throughout the War of 1812 under different names. It was renamed the General Beresford to make way for a larger man-of-war, and later it was renamed the Netley, named after a village near the naval depot of Portsmouth. After the war, the Netley remained in commission for some time.
Lieutenant John Tucker Williams, grandfather of General Victor Williams, commanded the vessel from 1814 onwards. However, he was later transferred to the schooner Surprise in 1817, and the Netley was decommissioned. In 1836, an advertisement for naval stores to be sold at Kingston Navy Yard mentioned “one old schooner and four old ships of war, lying aground on the mud in the harbor,” possibly referring to the Netley.
The wreck uncovered in Navy Bay corresponds in size to the known dimensions of the Prince Regent, making it the most likely candidate for identification. The wreck measures approximately 78 feet in length, whereas other war vessels from that era were considerably larger. The options for the wreck’s identity narrow down to three vessels: the brig Earl of Moira, the brig Lord Melville, and the schooner Prince Regent. The dimensions of the wreck align closely with those of the Prince Regent, further supporting its identification.
While the possibility of raising, restoring, or preserving the wreck exists, no concrete plans have been made regarding its fate. Examining the wreck can provide valuable insights into the construction and history of this once-proud ship. Various features, such as reinforcing timbers, cringles for the sails, lead liners for planks, and mortices for masts and posts, can be observed and analyzed. The ironwork of the ship, meticulously crafted by blacksmiths, demonstrates the care and effort put into its construction.
Overall, the discovery of this wreck offers a glimpse into Toronto’s shipbuilding history and the significant role the Prince Regent played in the War of 1812. While the wreck currently rests neglected and forgotten in Navy Bay, its potential preservation or restoration could serve as a tribute to its historical significance.
