USS Hornet vs HMS Peacock

24 February 1813, Off the mouth of the Demerara River, Guiana

American victory; Peacock sunk

Driven off from Bahia, James Lawrence took Hornet north to the coast of Guiana, and off the Demerara river met the brig-sloop Peacock coming out to find him. The two ships passed on opposite tacks, exchanging broadsides, and then Hornet wore round onto Peacock's quarter and poured in her heavier carronade fire. In under fifteen minutes Peacock's captain, William Peake, was dead and his ship was sinking, and she hoisted a distress signal. The Americans took off her wounded, but she went down in shallow water with some of her crew still aboard and three of Hornet's men. Lawrence was promoted and given command of the frigate Chesapeake.