French frigate Terpsichore (1763)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Terpsichore.

History
France
Name	Terpsichore
Ordered	22 December 1762 [1]
Builder	Indret [1]
Laid down	July 1762 [1]
Launched	10 August 1763 [1]
In service	December 1763 [1]
Fate	Sold in August 1783
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen	600 tonnes
Length	45.7 metres
Beam	11.1 metres
Depth of hold	4.9 metres
Armament	Gun deck: 30 × 12-pounder long guns Quarterdeck and forecastle: 6 lighter guns

Terpsichore was a 36-gun frigate of the French Navy. She took part in the War of American Independence.

Career

Terpsichore took part in operations against the Salé Rovers, under Captain Jean-François Aubé de Braquemont, ^{[1] [2]} along with Danaé.

In 1775, she was the flagship of the Escadre d'évolution under Guichen, ^[1] conducting exercises from Brest ^{[3] [4]} with a 12-ship division comprising four frigates, five corvettes, a lugger and two cutters, and 1885 men. ^[5] In June 1776, she collided with Solitaire and both ships had to repair in Cadiz. ^{[6] [1]}

In 1776, she was under Poute de Nieuil, at Rochefort, in the squadron under Du Chaffault. ^[7]

In 1779, she was under Lombard, cruising first around Ile de Ré, Ile d'Aix and Brest, ^{[8] [9] [10]} and then part of the squadron under Orvilliers. ^[11]

Fate

Terpsichore was condemned in Brest in August 1783, and sold in March 1787. ^[1]

Citations

1. Roche (2005), p. 433.
2. Mézin, p. 25.
3. Archives nationales (2011), p. 198.
4. Archives nationales (2011), p. 200.
5. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 72.
6. Roche (2005), p. 419.
7. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 608.
8. Archives nationales (2011), p. 218.
9. Archives nationales (2011), p. 241.
10. Archives nationales (2011), p. 243.
11. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 640.

References

• Archives nationales (2011). "Fonds Marine, sous-série B/4: Campagnes, 1571-1785" (PDF). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
• Mézin, Anne. "Correspondance des Consuls de France à Cadix, Index prosopographique des noms de personnes" (PDF). Archives nationales. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
• Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1905). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion. OCLC   763372623.
• Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN   978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC   165892922. (1671-1870)