HMS Circe (1785)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain
|
|
| Name: | HMS Circe |
| Ordered: | 6 March 1782 |
| Builder: | Henry Ladd, Dover |
| Laid down: | December 1782 |
| Launched: | 30 September 1785 |
| Completed: | 2 November 1790 |
| Commissioned: | September 1790 |
| Honors and awards: |
Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) with clasp "Camperdown" |
| Fate: | Wrecked off Norfolk, 17 November 1803 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 599 55⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 33 ft 7 3⁄4 in (10.255 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 200 officers and men |
| Armament: |
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HMS Circe was a 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1785 but not completed or commissioned until 1790. She then served in the English Channel on the blockade of French ports before she was wrecked in 1803.
The Circe was first commissioned in September 1790 under the command of Captain George Oakes. She was paid off in October 1791. Captain A. H. Gardiner commissioned her in April 1792.
Joseph Sydney Yorke was promoted to post-captain on 4 February 1793 and given command of Circe, then part of a squadron under Admiral Richard Howe. He patrolled off the French port of Brest. In March Circe took the French ships Diane, Vaudreuil and Jeune Felix. Circe shared the prize money for Diane and Vaudreuil with Druid. On 18 March Circe captured the Danish brig Pelican.
Then in May Circe took the French privateers Didon (or Dido) and Auguste (or 1 Auguste).Didon was armed with 14 guns and had a crew of 100 men. Auguste was armed with 18 and had a crew of 160. Lastly, Circe captured the privateer Coureur (or Courier), of 10 guns and 84 men. She shared with Aimable in the prize money for Courier, which they had captured on 26 May.
With Nymphe, Circe captured the corvette L'Espiegle on 20 November. Espiegle was pierced for 16 guns, and was manned with 100 men under the command of Mons. Pierre Biller, Enseign de Vaisseau. The Royal Navy took Espiegle into service under her existing name.
Circe played a minor, supporting role at the Action of 20 October 1793 and consequently shared with Crescent in the prize money for Réunion. At some point Circe and Phaeton recaptured the brig Venus and sloop Ant, "laden with Butter". On 24 May 1794, Circe recpatured the brig Perseverance, while in company with the rest of the squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral Montagu.
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Wikipedia