Dec. 22, 1810 while returning from Göthenborg the 3rd Rate Frigate HMS Minotaur ran aground on Texel Island in the North Sea. The ship was stuck fast in the sand with no hope of freeing herself, the tiller had been carried away and soon the ship had fifteen feet of water in her. The crew made all attempts to lighten the ship, but this also failed. As hours passed the situation continued to get worse. It was not until daylight the next day that they even knew where they were. Some thought they had grounded near the coast of England, this is how far off course the storm had driven the ship.

As the storm dismasted the ship and began to take her apart one of the crew took a yawl and made for land in an attempt to get help. Those on board, including the captain, felt this was impossible, however the little boat made land which encouraged others to launch a boat and head for land. Those in the boats and four others who held to floating debris and made land would be the only survivors of the disaster.

When the British stepped foot on Holland they were met by a contingent of French soldiers and a few Dutch officers, the French took them prisoner and the Dutch refused to send help to those on the ship. At a little after 2 p.m. the remaining part of the ship capsized taking those who were still alive to their death. In all between 300 and 500 were lost, only 114 survived.

The survivors continued to maintain the Dutch refused any and all requests to send help, however there is a report that in fact Captain Musquetie, commander in the Texel Roads, sent two boats to survey the situation, but determined a rescue attempt was impossible. This claim of "impossible" was disputed by the British, after all they had made it from the ship to the shore in smaller boats, albeit this was very difficult and as the men were fighting for their very lives, they would have been motivated to perform above and beyond any normal call of duty.