HMS President, 1829-1903

HMS President was a Royal Navy frigate of the fourth-rate.1 President was part of the Anglo-French squadron during the Crimean War, and from 1854-62 it was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Henry William Bruce in the Pacific, commanded at that time by Captain Charles Frederick.2

According to this 1856 despatch, President was sent to Vancouver Island to ease the fears of the colonists regarding potential attacks from the Indigenous population. It is unclear from the despatches whether or not HMS President ever arrived.

1. Peter Davis, HMS President (1829), The Victorian Royal Navy (website). http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1915
2. Ibid.

Mentions of this vessel in the documents

Schedules
Schedules
The Colonial Despatches: Schedules
Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Russell, Lord John 13 September 1855, CO 305:6, no. 10886, 136.
Hammond, Edmund to Merivale, Herman 1 February 1856, CO 305:7, no. 1008, 162.
Phinn, Thomas to Merivale, Herman 25 February 1856, CO 305:7, no. 1862, 143.
Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Grey, Right Honorable Second Baronet Sir George 1 March 1856, CO 305:7, no. 3969, 5.
Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Grey, Right Honorable Second Baronet Sir George 7 March 1856, CO 305:7, no. 3970, 13.
Shepherd,John to Labouchere, Henry 13 March 1856, CO 305:7, no. 2400, 324.
Shepherd,John to Labouchere, Henry 8 May 1856, CO 305:7, no. 4155, 342.
Labouchere, Henry to Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James 14 May 1856, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 415.
Osborne, Ralph to Merivale, Herman 21 May 1856, CO 305:7, no. 4583, 145.
Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Labouchere, Henry 14 August 1856, CO 305:7, no. 9707, 73.

Colonial Despatches

The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871

HMS President, 1829-1903