Oiseau was a privateer brig from Nantes, commissioned in May 1797. She had a short, but highly successful career. In her three to four months of cruising, before the Royal Navy captured her, Oiseau's captured eight prizes, seven of which were not recaptured. Her first prize required a single ship action. Her prizes had a cumulative value of Livres 1,168,150.
Oiseau was under the command of Jacques Breton (or Le Breton), and had a complement of 100 men.[1]
The slave shipBritannia, Robert Pince, master, sailed from Liverpool on 14 May 1797, bound for Africa.[2] In late May she encountered a British warship that warned Pince that a French privateer brig was in the vicinity. He decided to look for the privateer. On 1 June, Britannia encountered Oiseau. In the ensuing engagement Britannia had one man killed and several wounded, and suffered much damage before she struck after an hour's combat.[3]Lloyd's List reported that a French privateer had captured Britannia, and Elizabeth, Crellin, master, from Liverpool to Martinique, and had taken them into Nantes.[4][lower-alpha 1] When Britannia reached Nantes her cargo of trade goods sold for Livres 67,680.[3]
On 15 June Oiseaux returned to Nantes with Cowley, a three-masted vessel of 400 tons. There, the 360 barrels of sugar, casks of coffee, staves, and cacao stowed in her hold were valued at Livres 465,009.[6]Lloyd's List reported that Oiseau had captured Cowley, George, master, as Cowley was sailing from San Domingo to London. Oiseau prevailed after a two-hour fight and sent Cowley into Minden.[7][lower-alpha 2]
On 4 August, Cunningham, of four guns, arrived in the Loire. Her cargo of charcoal was sold for Lives 9,940.[6]Lloyd's List reported that a French privateer had captured Cunningham, from Greenock, off Cape Clear.[11][lower-alpha 3]
On 9 August, two more prizes to Oiseau entered the Loire.[6]
Joseph, a brig of 125 tons, was carrying some barrels of oil and seal skins. Her cargo was valued at Livres 7,120.[6]Lloyd's List reported that a French privateer had captured Joseph, Tullock, master, near Cape Clear, as she was sailing from Newfoundland to Poole.[11][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]
Columbia, was an American vessel carrying a cargo of sugar, coffee, tobacco, and hides.[6]Oiseau captured Columbia on 2 August. Although the United States was neutral, Columbia was condemned for defective papers, in particular, for not having a crew list.[15] Her cargo was valued at Livres 468,601.[6]Lloyd's List reported that a French privateer had captured Columbia, Lathrop, master, and taken her into Nantes. Columbia had been sailing from New York to Hamburg.[16][lower-alpha 6]
On 5 September Daphne came into the Loire. She brought the news that Oiseau had been captured. Her cargo of salted goods was valued at Livres 150,000.[6]Lloyd's List reported that the French privateer Oiseau had captured Daphne, Keatley, master, as Daphne was sailing from Limerick to London.[17][lower-alpha 7]
Capture
On 21 August 1797, HMS Penguin, Commander John King Pulling, saw two vessels sailing towards her. They were flying the British flag, but then revealed themselves to be French. Within half-an-hour of an exchange of fire the rearmost struck. However, the seas were too rough for Pulling to take possession, and the other vessel was larger, so Pulling set off after her. A running fight lasting one hour and 40 minutes ensued before the second French vessel struck. She turned out to be the French privateer corvette Oiseau, pierced for 20 guns but carrying sixteen 9-pounder guns and two long French 12-pounder guns. She had a crew of 119 men, of whom one was killed and five wounded in the pursuit.[19]
Pulling then went back to recapture the first vessel, which was trying to escape. She turned out to be Express, of Dartmouth, which Oiseau had captured. Express had been the French privateer Appocrate, of 12 guns, that had been captured a few months earlier.[19]
Pulling reported that Oiseau had been at sea for 34 days and had captured three prizes, including Express.[19]Lloyd's List reported that Express, Pearson, master, had been taken and retaken on her way from London to Newfoundland, and had arrived at Cork.[20][lower-alpha 8]
Oiseau's prizes had a cumulative value of Livres 1,168,150.[22][lower-alpha 9]
Notes
↑ Elizabeth, of 166 tons (bm), R.Crillon, master, had been launched in Wales in 1784.[5]
↑ Cowley, of 248 tons, was built at New Brunswick in 1790. In 1797, her master was R. George, her owner Cumming, and her voyage was London–West Indies.[8] When Cowley was sold her new owners retained her name. HMS Uranie recaptured Le Cowley on 6 January 1800.[9]Cowley was on her way from Lorient to Brest; Uranie took her into Plymouth.[10]
↑ Cunningham, of 104 tons, was built at Saltcoats in 1780. In 1797, her master changed from W.McGill to J.Drummond, and her owner from Robinson to R.Wilson. Her voyage changed from Greenock–Martinique to Greenock–Oporto.[12]
↑ One source refers to Joseph as St Joseph, and describes her cargo as consisting of skins.[13]
↑ Joseph, of 86 tons, was built at Poole in 1770. In 1797 her master was J. Tullock, her owner was Harrison, and her voyage was Poole–Newfoundland.[14]
↑ Another source does not name Columbia, but simply describes her as being of 300 tons (bm), with a cargo of sugar.[13]
↑ Express, of 113 tons (bm), was a French prize, launched in 1795. Her master was W.Pearson, her owner was Codner, and her voyage was London–Newfoundland.[21]
↑ At an exchange rate of 24.75 Livres per pound sterling, the sterling value of the prizes was approximately £47,000.
Britannia, was a vessel launched in 1783 at Saltcoats, possibly under another name. She made four voyages from Liverpool as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She grounded at Liverpool in 1793 after the first. A French privateer captured her in 1795 during the second, and took her to Guadeloupe where the Republican Government almost certainly freed the captives. She returned to British ownership and made two more voyages as a slave ship. A French privateer captured her during her fourth voyage.
Britannia, was a vessel launched in 1788 at New Brunswick. In 1795–1796, she made one complete voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade, taking enslaved people from West Africa to Jamaica. A French privteer captured her in 1797 in a notable single ship action as Britannia was on the outward leg of her second voyage. Her captor took her to Nantes.
Alexander was launched in 1800 at Hull, or actually further up the River Ouse at Selby, and probably under another name. From 1807 on she was a West Indiaman. She was wrecked on 19 May 1820 while sailing to Honduras.
Dame Ernouf first appears under that name in 1807. Her origins are currently obscure. She served as a privateer first under that name, and then under the name Diligent. As Diligent she not only capture several merchantmen but also two British Royal Navy vessels: a schooner and a brig. She continued to capture prizes until the end of 1813 and then disappears from online records.
Swallow was launched in Spain in 1790, almost certainly under another name. She was taken in prize in 1805 and became a slaver ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She made two voyages carrying captives, on both of which privateers captured her.
Britannia was launched at Kirkcaldy in 1798. she spent her career as a West Indiaman. In 1807 a French privateer captured her, but the British Royal Navy recaptured her the next day. Finally, an American privateer captured her in October 1812.
Général Pérignon was a brig launched at Saint-Malo in February 1804 as a privateer. She captured numerous British merchant vessels over several cruises. In January 1810 the British Royal Navy captured her. She was sold in March 1810 and became a coaster sailing between Plymouth and London under her original name, or as Intention. She was last listed in 1816.
Patent was launched at Lynn in 1803. During her career French privateers captured her twice, and the French Navy captured her once. Two of the captures took place in 1812. The British Royal Navy recaptured her twice, and her French Navy captors released her. She also captured but lost a valuable American ship. She was wrecked in 1819.
Ellis was a French prize, captured in 1797, possibly built that year also. Liverpool merchants purchased her. She made five complete voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade carrying enslaved people from West Africa to the British West Indies. She was lost at sea on 23 April 1806 on her sixth voyage before she could take on any captives.
Several vessels have been named Camilla:
Vittoria was a schooner launched at Baltimore in 1811 under another name. British owners acquired her in 1813, probably as a prize, and renamed her. She became a privateer sailing out of Guernsey and captured at least three vessels trading between the United States and France. She disappeared from online records circa 1814, though she remains listed to 1818 with data unchanged from 1813. A French privateer may have captured her in 1814.
Mon Oncle Thomas was a three-masted privateer from La Rochelle. She was possibly the former Spanish Rosa, of 300 to 350 tonnes, captured in 1793. From at least 1799 on she made four cruises as a privateer. She participated in the short-lived recapture of the island of Gorée from the British. She made several highly profitable captures and engaged in at least one successful single-ship action. The British Royal Navy captured her in late 1804.
Dover was a French vessel launched in 1807 under another name and taken in prize that year. She sailed between Britain and North America until 1814 when a United States privateer captured and burnt her.
Rover was launched in 1786 in Poole. She spent her brief career sailing to Newfoundland from England, and returning via Spain, having delivered fish. In 1793 a French privateer captured her, but a British letter of marque quickly recaptured her. She was lost in 1795 while delivering fish from Newfoundland to Spain.
Hope was launched in 1792 at Plymouth. In 1793 She had a successful cruise as a privateer, capturing or recapturing some five vessels. On her return to England her owners sold her and she became the Spanish packet Esperanza, sailing between England and Spain. With the outbreak of war between Britain and Spain in 1796 Esperanza disappeared from the registers.
Carnatic, launched in 1770, was an East Indiaman belonging to the French East India Company. A British letter of marque captured her in 1778. She became a transport. She was wrecked in 1781.
Onslow was a Spanish vessel launched in 1789 that was taken in prize in 1795. She became a Liverpool-based slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She made one complete slave trading voyage before a French privateer captured her in 1797 as she was just on her way to embark slaves for a second voyage.
Badger was launched in Liverpool in 1775. She made one voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. New owners renamed her Molly in 1778 and sailed her as a West Indian. In 1779 she repelled an American privateer in a sanguinary single ship action. Her owners renamed her Lydia. While trading with Tortola she captured one or two prizes. Lydia was herself captured in 1782.
Molly was launched in 1769 at Liverpool. In 1776 she made one voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved persons. After, and possibly before, she was a West Indiaman. While sailing under a letter of marque, she captured some notable prizes. Two French frigates captured her on 4 September 1782.
Saint Ann was launched at Liverpool in 1797. She made one voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She foundered or was shipwrecked or destroyed in 1798 after she had delivered her captives but before she could return to Liverpool.
References
Demerliac, Alain (1999). La Marine de la Révolution: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1792 à 1799 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN9782906381247. OCLC492783890.
La Nicollière-Teijero, Stéphane (1896). La course et les corsaires du port de Nantes (in French).
Williams, Greg H. (2009). The French assault on American shipping, 1793-1813: a history and comprehensive record of merchant marine losses. McFarland. ISBN9780786438372.
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