HMS Squirrel was a Royal Navy

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...

 sixth rate, built in 1755.

History

HMS Squirrel was originally constructed in Woolwich Dockyard

Woolwich Dockyard

Woolwich Dockyard was an English naval dockyard founded by King Henry VIII in 1512 to build his flagship Henri Grâce à Dieu , the largest ship of its day....

 and launched on 23 October 1755, and mounted 20 guns. After serving during the French and Indian War

French and Indian War

The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...

, she was used to enforce customs laws in New England prior to the American Revolution. In 1764 while in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...

 Squirrel came to the assistance of HMS St John

HMS St John (1764)

HMS St. John was a Royal Navy ship attacked in 1764 by American colonists in Newport, Rhode Island.-History:Rhode Islanders were violently opposed to the passage of the Sugar Act in 1764, because the colony's main industry was producing rum from molasses...

, which was attacked by American colonists on Goat Island (Rhode Island)

Goat Island (Rhode Island)

Goat Island is a small island in Narragansett Bay and is part of the city of Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. The island is connected to the Easton's Point neighborhood via a causeway bridge. Goat Island is home to the Newport Harbor Light , The Marina Cafe & Pub, Belle Mer, and the Goat Island South...

. Squirrel was in active service until she was sold on 16 January 1783.

• On 23 December 1781 Squirrel was in company with , , and at the capture of the Dutch ship De Vrow Esther.