HMS Racer
Letter Of Marque / Privateer Schooner · United Kingdom · Lost 1814 · The Bahamas
Once the American letter-of-marque Independence, this schooner was taken into Royal Navy service and wrecked on the Cay Sal Bank while fleeing a Yankee privateer.
The Vessel and Her Loss
Racer began life as the American schooner Independence, built at New York in 1811 and sailing under a letter of marque before HMS Medusa captured her in 1812. Taken into Royal Navy service as HMS Racer, she served on the American coast and in European waters. In October 1814, after eluding a large American privateer off the southern coast, she wrecked on the Cay Sal Bank in the Florida Straits while heading for Jamaica. Her commander got the crew ashore and sailed to Nassau for rescue.
Vessel
- 1811
- Not established
- New York
- Wood
- 93.33 ft
- 24.87 ft
- 250
- Sail, schooner-rigged
- Royal Navy (after capture)
Loss
- October 10, 1814
- Grounding
- Cay Sal Bank, Florida Straits
- Florida Straits
- Jamaica
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Lieutenant Henry Freeman Young Pogson
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- Not established
- Position not established
- Cay Sal Bank
Cay Sal Bank is a large shoal area; no specific wreck coordinates are documented in the sources reviewed.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Partially documented (65/100)
Sources differ on whether Independence should be classed as a true privateer or a letter-of-marque trader, and no precise wreck position is documented.
Wikipedia: HMS Racer (1812), citing Royal Navy prize and service records
Build origin, capture, naval service, and wrecking narrative.
