[colorado tanker]

At the time the Company governed India and had its own army and navy. After the 1857 Mutiny, the Company was stripped of those powers and direct British colonial rule was instituted. But, as you say, technically, this was not a ship of the Royal Navy.

I found the article confusing and did some checking. During the Seven Years War Spain seized Colonia del Sacramento, which is on the River Plate. Apparently, this ship was attacking Colonia but got too close to the land guns. After the end of the War, it went back to Portugal, hence the Spanish mayhem when they left. Obviously, eventually the region became independent and Spanish speaking.

[centurion316]

The Company’s forces fought for both fortune and Empire, but the British Regular forces looked down their noses socially and militarily.