Location: North Gallery

The Ship

Named for an Egyptian God, HMS Serapis sailed into history on 23 September 1779, under the command of Captain Richard Pearson off Flamborough Head, in the North Sea, east of Yorkshire, England, where he was engaged by John Paul Jones of the Continental Navy in USS Bon Homme Richard.

SERAPIS, with 44 guns, was providing protection for a 41-ship convoy that ignored Pearson’s signals and aided Jones in his 40-gun former French India Man Bon Homme Richard ex Duc De Duras in joining battle.

The melee, fought in darkness, became a blood bath when Jones grappled Serapis and lashed her alongside.  Both ships caught fire.  Over 150 men of Bon Homme Richard’s crew of 322 were killed or wounded, while Serapis lost 130 of her 284 men.  The bloody engagement finally ended with the surrender of Serapis.

The following day, Bon Homme Richard, a burning wreck, was left to sink as Jones, now in command of HMS Serapis, returned to France.

The Model

Scale:  1/8”   Case:  H 19 ¾”  L 35 ¼”  W 10 ½”
Plank on frame by an unknown builder
Source:  Quester Maritime Collection, Stonington, Connecticut