French ship Belle Poule (1828)

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The Belle-Poule was a 60-gun frigate of the French Navy, famous for bringing the ashes of Napoléon from Saint Helena back to France.

Related Topics:
French Navy - Napoléon - Saint Helena

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Although construction was started in 1828, the Belle-Poule was launched only in 1834. She was one of the first ships to be built in a covered shipyard, which allowed the builders to delay construction while the political and financial circumstances were not favourable. Her design was inspired by the USS Constitution cruiser class. She was commissioned in July 1835, and displayed very good sailing properties.

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On the 1st August 1839, under command of Prince of Joinville, third son of King Louis-Philippe, she left Cherbourg to join the Eastern fleet of Admiral Lalande. She was back in Toulon on the 21 December.

Related Topics:
Louis-Philippe - Cherbourg

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On the 27 July 1840, she set sail with special equipment for Saint Helena to bring back the ashes of Napoléon. She had been painted black for the occasion. On September 30, she arrived back in Cherbourg, after leaving the remains of the Emperor in Le Havre.

Related Topics:
Saint Helena - Napoléon - Le Havre

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In 1841, the Belle Poule cruised along the Canadian coast, landing in Halifax, and visited New York, where the Prince of Joinville visited the President of the USA. The Belle Poule was back in Toulon on the 14 July 1842.

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In 1844, Joinville, then vice-admiral, was sent to Marocco to support the action of General Bugeaud in Algeria, with the Suffren, the Jemmapes, the Triton, and the frigate Belle Poule. Tanger came under attack on the August 6, and Mogador was taken on August 15.

Related Topics:
Bugeaud - Suffren - Tanger

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Afterwards, the Belle Poule cruised the Indian Ocean, where a cyclone left her with serious damage. She was repaired in Sainte-Marie de Madagascar, and returned to Brest.

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She took part in the Crimean War, mostly as a transport; she stayed in the East until August 1856, and sailed back to Toulon on September 1st.

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In 1859, she was used to tranport ammunition, and was decommissioned on the 19 March 1861. She was still used to store gunpowder until 1888.

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