HMS Linnet (1806)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
|
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| Name: | HMS Linnet |
| Builder: | Cowes |
| Launched: | 1797 |
| Captured: | 25 February 1813 |
 France
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| Name: | Linnet |
| Acquired: | 1813 by capture |
| Fate: | Sold 1813 |
| United States | |
| Name: | Bunkers Hill |
| Acquired: | 1813 By gift or sale |
| Captured: | March 1814 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cutter; later brig |
| Displacement: | 200 |
| Tons burthen: | 196 70⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: | 77 ft 9 1⁄2 in (23.7 m) (overall); 57 ft 7 5⁄8 in (17.6 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 25 ft 4 in (7.7 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 10 ft 9 in (3.3 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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HMS Linnet was originally His Majesty’s revenue cutter Speedwell, launched in 1797, that the Royal Navy purchased in 1806. Linnet captured a number of privateers before the French frigate Gloire captured her in 1813. The French sold or transferred her to the Americans, who operated her as the privateer Bunkers Hill. In March 1814 the British recaptured her, but did not return her to service.
Speedwell was one of four revenue cutters present when the boats of a squadron under the command of Sir John Borlase Warren cut out the French privateer Guëppe on 30 August 1800.
Having purchased Speedwell and having renamed her linnet, the Royal Navy commissioned her in December 1806 under Lieutenant Joseph Beckett. In 1807 Lieutenant John Tracey (or Treacy, or Treacey, or Tracy) transferred from the hired armed cutter Princess Augusta to replace Beckett. On 29 July, Tracey was captain of Linnet when she and Decade captured the French sloop Victor.
Puissant and the "armed cutter" Linnet shared in the detention on 27 August of the Danish ship Deodaris. At the time, Puissant was an unarmed third rate serving as a receiving ship in the harbor at Portsmouth. That same day Linnet was in company with the cutter Sprightly when they captured Kron Prinz Frederick.
On 4 November, Linnet detained the galiot Wilhelmina, Willem Elderts, master.Wilhelmina, Eddarts, master, had been sailing from Petersburg. Linnet sent her into Portsmouth. About a month later a Wilhelmina, carrying cordage and timber, and detained by the Linnet, also arrived at Portsmouth.
On 16 January 1808, Linnet was some six or seven leagues from Cape Barfleur when she saw a French lugger pursuing two English vessels, a ship and a brig. Linnet joined up with the English vessels and towards night was able to close with the lugger. After an engagement of a little over two hours, the French lugger was in a sinking state and so struck. She was the privateer Courier, of 18 guns. She had a complement of 60 men under the command of Captain Alexander Black, and had lost her second captain killed and three men wounded. (Linnet had no loses.) Courier had been out four days and had been sheltering from a gale at the Îles Saint-Marcouf. She had not captured anything before herself being captured. However, earlier that day Courier apparently unsuccessfully engaged for two hours the merchant vessel Tagus, Connolly, master, which had been sailing from Monte Video and Cork.
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Wikipedia