During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars the Royal Navy used several vessels that bore the designation His Majesty's hired armed cutter Lord Nelson, all named for Lord Horatio Nelson.
This cutter served the Royal Navy from 17 December 1798 to 7 December 1801. [1] She carried twelve 12-pounder carronades and was of 156+46⁄94 tons (bm). [1]
On 3 March 1799, Lord Nelson, under the command of Lieutenant Robert Percy, together with the Hired armed lugger Brave, captured the two-mast ships Baron Von Hopkin and Sverige Lycka. [2] Then on 22 March Lord Nelson captured Two Brothers. [3] On 13 September 1804, prize money for Baron Von Hopkin and Sverige Lycka was paid. [2]
On 1 July 1800, Lord Nelson was in company with Fisgard, Renown, and Defence in Bourneuf Bay when they sent in their boats to attack a French convoy at Île de Noirmoutier. [4] The British destroyed the French ship Therese (of 20 guns), a lugger (12 guns), two schooners (6 guns each), and a cutter (6 guns), of unknown names. The cutting out party also burned some 15 merchant vessels loaded with corn and supplies for the French fleet at Brest. However, in this enterprise, 92 officers and men out of the entire party of 192 men, fell prisoners to the French when their boats became stranded. Lord Nelson had contributed no men to the attacking force and so had no casualties. [4] [lower-alpha 1]
On 12 October 1800, Montague, Magnificent, and Lord Nelson captured eight small French vessels. [6] Later that month, on 21 October, the same three vessels, joined by Marlborough, captured a small French vessel, marked Letter F. [6] Two days later, Montague, Marlborough and Lord Nelson captured Marquireto. [6] Two days after that, Montague and Lord Nelson captured Maria Rose, and Two Wrecks. [6]
This cutter carried six 4-pounder guns and was of 67+74⁄9 tons (bm). [7] She served the Royal Navy from 1 June 1803 to 12 December 1804. [7]
On 23 March 1804, while under the command of Lieutenant Henry Hopewell Budd, Lord Nelson recaptured the ship Young William. [8]
Under the command of Lieutenant George N. Tremlett, Lord Nelson captured Experiment, Mayners, master, and Two Sisters on 29 July and 5 August. [9] [10]
On 2 August Scorpion, with Lord Nelson in company, captured the Prussian vessel Ignatius. [11] Ignatius, or Ignatus, Bakker, master, was carrying masts from Riga when Scorpion detained her and sent her into Yarmouth. [10]
Circa 5 September 1804 she was renamed Frederick. [7] The Royal Navy disposed of her in December.
This cutter, built in 1803, carried eight 12-pounder carronades and was of 68+54⁄94 tons (bm). [12] She served from 10 August 1807 until 15 August 1809. [12]
On 20 May, while under the command of Mr. John Wood, Master, she was in company with Princess Caroline off the Vlie when they captured the Dutch privateer schooner Pietheyn. [13] The vessel, whose name was actually Admiral Pietheyer, was five years old and armed with three 12-pounder guns (two bow chasers and one aft), four 8-pounder guns, and a 24-pounder howitzer. She had a crew of 28 men under the command of Lieutenant D. Van Heareskerche. The boats from Princess Caroline captured her without loss of life. [14]
Lord Nelson was wrecked, with no loss of life, near Vlissigen on 15 August 1809. [15] The hired armed cutter Hurd was wrecked with her. [15] Sir Thomas Bourchier, then an Acting Lieutenant, having just passed his exam for Lieutenant, served briefly as Lord Nelson's commanding officer before removing to HMS Forester.
HMS Snapper was a Royal Navy Ballahoo-class schooner of four 12-pounder carronades and a crew of 20. The prime contractor for the vessel was Goodrich & Co., in Bermuda, and she was launched in 1804. She cruised for some seven years, sharing in several captures of merchant vessels and taking some herself, before a French privateer captured her.
During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars the Admiralty also made use of hired armed vessels, one of which was His Majesty's Hired armed cutter Swan. Actually there were two such cutters, but the descriptions of these vessels and the dates of their service are such that they may well represent one vessel under successive contracts. The vessel or vessels cruised, blockaded, carried despatches and performed reconnaissance.
His Majesty's Hired armed cutter Brave served the British Royal Navy from 29 August 1798 until 22 April 1799, when the transport Eclipse ran her down off Beachy Head. Brave is sometimes described as a lugger and sometimes as a cutter.
The British Royal Navy employed two vessels described as His Majesty's hired armed cutter Kent, the first during the French Revolutionary Wars, and the second during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Royal Navy used several vessels that were described as His Majesty's hired armed cutter King George. Some of these may have been the same vessel on repeat contract.
His Majesty's hired armed lugger Lark served the Royal Navy from 3 January 1799 to 6 November 1801. She was armed with two 4-pounder guns and twelve 12-pounder carronades. She had a burthen of 17013⁄94 tons (bm), and a crew of 50 men and boys. At the end of her contract the Admiralty returned her to her owners.
Two vessels have been named His Majesty's hired armed cutter Earl St Vincent.
His Majesty's hired armed cutter Courier appears twice in the records of the British Royal Navy. The size and armament suggests that both contracts could represent the same vessel, but other information indicates that the second Courier had been captured from the French in the West Indies. On the first contract the captain and crew were awarded clasps to the Naval General Service Medal, one for a boat action and one for a single ship action in which they distinguished themselves.
During the period of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, there were two or three vessels known as His Majesty's hired armed cutter Active that served the British Royal Navy. The reason for the uncertainty in the number is that the size of the vessels raises the possibility that the first and second may have been the same vessel.
During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, British vessels captured at least 12 French warships and privateers named Espoir, which means “Hope” in French. In only one case was there mention of an exchange of fire or casualties. In general, the privateers tried to escape, and failing that surrendered.
During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the British Royal Navy employed at least two cutters designated His Majesty's hired armedcutterNile.
At least two vessels known as His Majesty's hired armed lugger Nile served the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. These may have been the same vessel on sequential contracts.
Two vessels have borne the designation, His Majesty's hired armed cutter Lion. The first served during the French Revolutionary Wars, capturing five privateers and several merchant vessels. The second served briefly at the start of the Napoleonic Wars. Both vessels operated in the Channel. The two cutters may have been the same vessel; at this juncture it is impossible to know. French records report that the French captured the second Lion in 1808 and that she served in the French Navy until 1809.
Two vessels have borne the designation, His Majesty's hired armed cutter Constitution. The first served the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary Wars. The second served briefly at the start of the Napoleonic Wars and was sunk in 1804. The two cutters are similar enough that may have been the same vessel; at this juncture it is impossible to know.
Two vessels named His Majesty's hired armed cutter Griffin served the British Royal Navy, the first during the French Revolutionary Wars and the second during the Napoleonic Wars. The descriptions of the two Griffins are similar enough to suggest they may have been the same vessel.
His Majesty's Hired armed cutter George was a cutter that served the Royal Navy between 6 June 1798 and 12 November 1801 under contract. She had a burthen of 125 34⁄94 tons (bm), and was armed two 6-pounder guns and twelve 12-pounder carronades. She captured one French privateer. During the Napoleonic Wars the French captured her and she served the French Navy until September 1813; she was struck from the French Navy's lists ca. 1816.
Two vessels named His Majesty's hired armed lugger Sandwich served the British Royal Navy, one during the French Revolutionary Wars, and the other during the Napoleonic Wars.
Two vessels named His Majesty's Hired armed cutter Industry briefly served the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars as hired armed vessels.
Two vessels named His Majesty's Hired armed cutter Adrian served the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars as hired armed vessels.
HM hired armed cutter Flora served the British Royal Navy under contract from 16 August 1794 until a French privateer captured her on 1 December 1798.
