The Royal Navy in Nova Scotia Waters

The Pyramus was an old teak Danish-built, first-class 28-gun frigate, that was captured with seven others by Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen. The eight vessels were quite new at the time and lay on the stocks. They were launched by Nelson, fitted with jury masts and sent to England. The Pyramus was sent about 1833 or earlier to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she is shown moored alongside one of the Naval Yard wharves, offering a strange contrast to the modern specimens of shipbuilding of the day. The hulk was used as a hospital for invalid men-of-war, and also as temporary accomodation of the crews of vessels refitted in the dockyards. During the outbreak of cholera in Halifax, this boat was taken from the Dockyard to quarantine and used as a hospital ship. She was later brought back to the Dockyard and sold to Mr. Saul Mosher, who demolished the vessel about 1880.

Date: ca.1870

Photographer: Notman Studio

Reference: Notman Studio Nova Scotia Archives 1983-310 O/S no. 39065