L'Herminie
Frigate · France · Lost 1838 · Bermuda
A 60-gun French frigate driven onto the reef near Bermuda's Dockyard in 1838 while limping home from Mexican waters, now scattered with dozens of cannon.
The Vessel and Her Loss
Launched in 1824, the 60-gun French frigate L'Herminie served in a squadron blockading Mexican ports during 1837 before being recalled to France, her crew weakened by yellow fever. Making for shelter from heavy weather in early 1838, she drifted inside Bermuda's northwestern barrier reef and grounded near Chub Heads. All 495 aboard were safely evacuated to Ely's Harbour before the ship broke up, leaving dozens of her cannon scattered across the reef.
Vessel
- 1824
- Not established
- France
- Wood
- 300 ft
- Not established
- Not established
- Sail, three masts
- French Navy
Loss
- January 1, 1838
- Grounding
- Chub Heads reef, west of the Royal Naval Dockyard
- Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda reef platform
- Havana, Cuba → France
- Not established
- 495
- 0
- Commodore Bazoche
The Wreck Today
- 25-30
- Broken and scattered; roughly 25 cannon remain visible along with a large anchor and capstan remnants.
- Not established
- Not established
- Protected historic wreck, Bermuda
Position
- 32.319° N 64.976° W
- Surveyed position
- Chub Heads, west of the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Position from the Bermuda Government's Historic Wreck and Mooring Locator dataset.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (85/100)
The exact date of grounding within early 1838 is not established in the sources reviewed.
Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society (MAHS)
Build history, voyage, loss narrative, wreck condition.
Government of Bermuda Historic Wreck and Mooring Locator
Coordinates, year sunk, length, depth.
