Captain Milius, of Didon, maneuvered adroitly, and casualties on both sides were heavy. The 4-hour fight cost Didon 27 men killed and 44 wounded. Phoenix lost 12 men killed and 28 wounded.[4]Lloyd's Patriotic Fund awarded Baker a sword worth 100 guineas.[5] In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp, "Phoenix 10 Augt. 1805".[6]
Baker took Didon in tow and sailed towards Gibraltar. By good fortune and skillful sailing he avoided encountering the Franco-Spanish fleet that had just left Cádiz. Instead of continuing onward, Baker changed direction and sailed for England.[7]
British service and fate
Didon arrived at Plymouth on 4 September 1805.[1] The Navy took her into British service as HMS Didon; she is the only ship of the Royal Navy to have borne this name. The Royal Navy commissioned Didon under the command of Captain Thomas Baker in November. She was paid off in 1807 and placed into Ordinary the same year.[1] The Navy commenced major repairs on Didon in May, but then cancelled the work. Didon was broken up in August 1811.[1]
Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-86176-246-7.
Winfield, Rif; Roberts, Stephen S. (2015). French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786–1861: Design Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-204-2.