HMS Prothee (1780)

Plans of the ship
History
France
Name:	Protée
Launched:	1772
Captured:	24 February 1780, by Royal Navy
United Kingdom
Name:	Prothee
Acquired:	24 February 1780
Fate:	Broken up, 1815
General characteristics
Class and type:	Artésien-class ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1480 tons (1503.7 tonnes)
Length:	164 ft 1 in (50.01 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	44 ft 7 in (13.59 m)
Depth of hold:	19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Armament:	64 guns of various weights of shot

Protée was an Artésien-class 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1772.

On 16 February 1780, Protée departed Lorient escorting a convoy bound for India, with troops and ammunition.Protée, under Captain Duchilleau de Laroche was the flagship of the convoy.

On 23 February, off Spain, the convoy met Rodney's fleet. Hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, Protée struck while Charmante returned to Lorient, arriving there on 3 March. Three merchantmen were also captured. Court-martialled for the loss of his ship, Duchilleau was honourably acquitted.

Protée was commissioned in the Royal Navy as the third rate HMS Prothee. She was converted to serve as a prison ship in 1799, and broken up in 1815. Eight of her small cannons were purchased by John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland and are currently at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire. The cannon are still fired on special occasions, such as weddings and the Duke's birthday.