Hired armed cutter Penelope
| History | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Name: | Penelope |
| Commissioned: | 29 January 1794 |
| Fate: | Captured, 7 July 1799 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cutter |
| Tons burthen: | 187 56⁄94 (bm) |
| Armament: | 16 × 4-pounder guns |
His Majesty's hired armed cutter Penelope served the Royal Navy from 29 January 1794 until the Spanish navy captured her off Gibraltar on 7 July 1799.
Lieutenant Robert Keen was appointed to command Penelope in 1793 and was promoted to Commander in 1797. On 9 October 1795 Penelope shared with a number of British warships in the recapture of the ship Kent.
In April 1797, Penelope was in the West Indies under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Burdwood. On 18 April, Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde-Parker ordered Captain Hugh Pigot to take his frigate Hermione, as well as the frigates Mermaid and Quebec, the brig Drake and Penelope to cut out 14 vessels at Jean-Rabel, Haiti. The squadron rendezvoused on the 19th and then the boats went in on the night of the 20th. They succeeded in bringing out nine vessels, all merchant vessels that French privateers had taken as prizes.
In late November Penelope was still under Burdwood's command when she captured a small French privateer cutter off the Start, which is some 16 leagues west of the Isle of Portland, on the English coast. The privateer had made no captures. This was probably Maria, for which prize money was payable a year later.
On 24 January 1798, Penelope captured the French privateer cutter Venturer (or Aventurier), ten leagues off the Start.Venturer was pierced for eight guns but carried only two 3-pounders, plus six swivel guns, together with small arms. She was three days out of Plempoull and had not taken any prizes.
At some point Penelope and the hired armed cutter Constitution shared in the proceeds of the capture of the Danish brig Neptunus.
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