HMS Allegiance
The HMS Allegiance was the Dragon Transport Ship that carried Temeraire to China from late 1805 to mid-1806.
The ship was originally assigned to Captain Cartwright when the Allegiance was scheduled to sail to Halifax, as another ship was being built for Cartwright there. When the destination changed to China, however, Cartwright could not go, as his new ship could not wait for him to return.
William Laurence suggested to Tom Riley that he seek the position. Riley was without a ship at the time because the HMS Reliant was dry-docked after suffering through the storm that occured just after the Battle of Trafalgar.
The Allegiance was a huge ship, over 400 feet long and oddly shaped because of the jutting dragon deck. It carried 150 guns.
Commissioned Officers:
- Tom Riley -- Captain
- Lord Purbeck -- First Lieutenant
- ? -- Second Lieutenant
- Franks -- Third Lieutenant - stammers and therefore sometimes appears rude because he's reluctant to speak; served on an East Indiaman as a boy.
- Beckett -- Fourth Lieutenant - excellent with mathematics, but always manages to give the wrong orders on deck
- Reynolds -- Midshipman - struck by Blythe in an attempt to prevent him from challenging Martin to a duel; an indifferent seaman, but made much of by the crew following this incident; eaten by a sea-serpent
- Tripp -- Midshipman - at 12 y.o., the youngest midshipman aboard during the voyage to China in 1806.
Warrant Officers:
- Pollitt -- Surgeon - previously served with Riley aboard the HMS Reliant; apparently replaced by Raclef by the time of the voyage to Africa in 1807
- Raclef -- Surgeon
- Garnett -- Sailing Master
- Cornell -- Master-at-arms
- Eklof -- Carpenter - a big, silent Swede
Petty Officers/Senior Seamen:
- Leddowes -- Carpenter's mate - a "cheerful, slant-shouldered fellow", known as the ship's jester; plays the role of Badger-Bag when the Allegiance crosses the Equator during the voyage to China; falls overboard while trying to keep Feng Li from killing Laurence during a storm
- Hingley -- Bosun's mate
- Sackler -- Master's mate - first mate on a South Seas whaler before being pressed (drafted) into the British Navy
- Jethson -- Steward
- Basson -- Coxswain
Other Crew:
- Jenkins
- Harvey
- Griggs - plays the role of Neptune when the Allegiance crosses the Equator during the voyage to China
- Boyne - plays the role of Amphitrite when the Allegiance crosses the Equator during the voyage to China
- Masterson
- Chervins - gun crew - killed during a sea serpent attack
- Dyfydd - gun crew - injured during a sea serpent attack
Marines:
- Macready -- Lieutenant
- Harris -- killed in the Valerie engagement; "perhaps eighteen" at the time
- Doyle -- eaten by a sea serpent
