The Cutting out of the Hermione

On 24 October 1799, a daring naval action took place in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. This was a bold mission to recapture the former British frigate HMS Hermione, now under Spanish command

The Hermione, handed to the Spanish by its mutinous British crew, was anchored in the heavily guarded Puerto Cabello. Led by Edward Hamilton, HMS Surprise was tasked with retaking it through a high-stakes “cutting out” operation—a stealthy, surprise boarding attack.

Some background: HMS Hermione’s troubles began with a brutal mutiny in 1797. Crew members, pushed to the edge by the tyrannical Captain Hugh Pigot, killed him and nine officers, handing Hermione over to the Spanish for fear of British retribution.

Renamed Santa Cecilia under Spanish rule, Hermione’s new home was the port of La Guaira before moving to Puerto Cabello. Meanwhile, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, determined to recover the ship, set rewards for the capture of mutineers, leading to 33 arrests.

Captain Edward Hamilton took command of HMS Surprise with one goal: reclaim the Hermione. He proposed a daring nighttime plan to cut the ship out of the harbor despite being vastly outnumbered by the 400 Spanish soldiers onboard and nearby shore batteries.

On October 25, under cover of darkness, Hamilton and 100 men approached. They were spotted by Spanish gunboats, sparking a crossfire as they attempted to board Santa Cecilia. Hamilton himself fought alone on deck for some time, with reinforcements arriving just in time to support him.

Amid fierce combat, the British marines and sailors overpowered the Spanish crew. Once Hamilton’s sailors severed Santa Cecilia‘s cables, she was ready to set sail. The British managed to avoid severe damage from shore fire as they slipped out of the harbor.

With minimal British casualties and no fatalities, Hamilton’s crew triumphed. Spanish losses were severe—120 dead, 231 captured. The Hermione was renamed HMS Retribution, and Hamilton was later knighted and honored with awards and riches for his bravery.

Hamilton’s valor marked one of the Royal Navy’s most celebrated actions. In 1847, the Admiralty awarded a gold medal for the recapture of HMS Hermione and issued medals to the seven surviving veterans of the action. The Cutting out of the Hermione remains legendary.

Olivier Goossens