HMS Saint Lucia (1803)
Encyclopedia
HMS Saint Lucia was a brig-sloop, the former French privateer schooner Enfant Prodigue, which the British captured in 1803 and took into service with the Royal Navy
. Under the British flag she captured three small French privateers and several prizes in the Leeward Islands before two French privateers recaptured her.
The British took Enfant Prodigue into service as the brig-sloop HMS Saint Lucia, of 14 guns. She was commissioned in August under Commander Conway Shipley.
In August-September Saint Lucia captured three prizes:
Around November, Saint Lucia recaptured the brig Earl St. Vincent, which had been sailing from Dublin to Barbados, and a Swedish schooner. The French privateer Harmonie, of Martinique, had captured them three days earlier. '"Saint Lucia was unable to capture the privateer which escaped by throwing her guns overboard and sawing down her gunwales.
On 25 January 1804, Saint Lucia captured the French privateers Furet and Bijou. Furet was out of Guadeloupe. She was armed with four guns and had a crew of 45 men. Bijou, captured off Grenada, was armed with six guns, and had a crew of 60 men, twenty of whom she had put on two prizes. These were the brig Good Intent, which had been sailing from Barbados to Demarara, and which had since retaken, and
the schooner Fancy, which had been sailing from Demarara to Barbados.
In May Commander Robert Reynolds replaced Shipley, who transferred to , and in November Commander James Ayscough replaced Reynolds. Commander Charles Gordon replaced Ayscough in 1806.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Under the British flag she captured three small French privateers and several prizes in the Leeward Islands before two French privateers recaptured her.
Privateer
Enfant Prodigue was a schooner, built in Bordeaux in 1794-95. In 1799 she captured the British schooner in a fight that resulted in Charlotte having one man wounded.Capture
On 24 June 1803, captured Enfant Prodigue between St Lucia and Martinique after a chase of 72 hours. Captain James O'Bryen of Emerald reported that Enfant Prodigue was pierced for 16 guns but had thrown all of her guns, however many she actually mounted, overboard during the chase. Head money was paid 25 years later.The British took Enfant Prodigue into service as the brig-sloop HMS Saint Lucia, of 14 guns. She was commissioned in August under Commander Conway Shipley.
British warship
On 16 August 1803, Saint Lucia captured the French privateer Sally. Sally was armed with six guns and had a crew of 28 men.In August-September Saint Lucia captured three prizes:
- French sloop Eliza (1 August), carrying mahogany and mill timber;
- brig Lucretia (16 September), carrying sugar; and,
- schooner Diana (27 September), carrying coffee and sugar.
Around November, Saint Lucia recaptured the brig Earl St. Vincent, which had been sailing from Dublin to Barbados, and a Swedish schooner. The French privateer Harmonie, of Martinique, had captured them three days earlier. '"Saint Lucia was unable to capture the privateer which escaped by throwing her guns overboard and sawing down her gunwales.
On 25 January 1804, Saint Lucia captured the French privateers Furet and Bijou. Furet was out of Guadeloupe. She was armed with four guns and had a crew of 45 men. Bijou, captured off Grenada, was armed with six guns, and had a crew of 60 men, twenty of whom she had put on two prizes. These were the brig Good Intent, which had been sailing from Barbados to Demarara, and which had since retaken, and
the schooner Fancy, which had been sailing from Demarara to Barbados.
In May Commander Robert Reynolds replaced Shipley, who transferred to , and in November Commander James Ayscough replaced Reynolds. Commander Charles Gordon replaced Ayscough in 1806.