French corvette Mignonne (1797)
Encyclopedia
Mignonne (French: "dainty") was a 16-gun corvette
of the Etna class in the French Navy
. She served until 1803 when the British captured her. There is no record of her being commissioned into the Royal Navy
; she grounded and was condemned in 1804.
in 1803. She participated in the capture of Fort Graville in February.
In 28 June 1803, as she sailed with the frigate Poursuivante
, she encountered a British convoy off San Domingo. One of the escorts, HMS Goliath
, was sailing inshore off Cape Nicholas Mole, to try to find two vessels seen earlier. She encountered, and after a few shots captured, Mignonne. In Captain Brisbane's words, she was a "remarkable fast sailing Ship Corvette,". She carried sixteen long 18-pounder guns, six of which she had landed. Her crew of only 80 men was under the command of Monsieur Jean P. Bargeaud, Capitaine de Fregate, and she was two days out of Aux-Cayes, sailing to France via the Cape.
as the 18-gun ship sloop
HMS Mignonne, but not commissioned. Her captain was Commander Edward Hawker.He had been promoted to Commander in 1803 and he received his promotion to post captain in June 1804, though he served on Mignonne for some time thereafter.
In June 1804 Mignonne ran ashore off Lucca, Jamaica. Desiree
was towing her to Port Royal when on 9 July at 0100 hours a bolt of lightning struck Mignonne, killing three seamen, injuring five (or nine), and causing some damage to the ship. Hawker reported that the bolt shattered the topmast and split the mainmast to the keelson
.
On 13 October Mignonne captured the French brig St. Antonio y les Animas, which was in ballast.
, Jamaica. She was then condemned.
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
of the Etna class in the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
. She served until 1803 when the British captured her. There is no record of her being commissioned into the 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...
; she grounded and was condemned in 1804.
French service and capture
Mignonne was built in Cherbourg from 1794 to 1797, launched on 15 October 1795, and took part in the Caribbean campaign led by Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de JoyeuseLouis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse
Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse was a French admiral.-Early career:Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse was born in Auch, in the heart of Gascony. The Villaret de Joyeuse family figured among the minor nobility from Languedoc...
in 1803. She participated in the capture of Fort Graville in February.
In 28 June 1803, as she sailed with the frigate Poursuivante
French frigate Poursuivante (1798)
The Poursuivante was a Romaine class frigate of the French Navy.In June 1800, the Poursuivante took part in the battle of Dunkirk under commander Oreille. In 1802, she departed Flushing to ferry troops to Saint-Domingue, under capitaine de vaisseau Jean-Baptiste Philibert Willaumez. She arrived as...
, she encountered a British convoy off San Domingo. One of the escorts, HMS Goliath
HMS Goliath (1781)
HMS Goliath was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line in the Royal Navy. She was launched on 19 October 1781 at Deptford Dockyard. She was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, Battle of the Nile, and Battle of Copenhagen. She was broken up in 1815....
, was sailing inshore off Cape Nicholas Mole, to try to find two vessels seen earlier. She encountered, and after a few shots captured, Mignonne. In Captain Brisbane's words, she was a "remarkable fast sailing Ship Corvette,". She carried sixteen long 18-pounder guns, six of which she had landed. Her crew of only 80 men was under the command of Monsieur Jean P. Bargeaud, Capitaine de Fregate, and she was two days out of Aux-Cayes, sailing to France via the Cape.
British service
She was added to the Royal NavyRoyal 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...
as the 18-gun ship sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
HMS Mignonne, but not commissioned. Her captain was Commander Edward Hawker.He had been promoted to Commander in 1803 and he received his promotion to post captain in June 1804, though he served on Mignonne for some time thereafter.
In June 1804 Mignonne ran ashore off Lucca, Jamaica. Desiree
French frigate Désirée (1796)
The Désirée was a Romaine class frigate of the French Navy.She was captured in a Raid on Dunkirk by HMS Dart, under Patrick Campbell, on 8 July 1800.-References:...
was towing her to Port Royal when on 9 July at 0100 hours a bolt of lightning struck Mignonne, killing three seamen, injuring five (or nine), and causing some damage to the ship. Hawker reported that the bolt shattered the topmast and split the mainmast to the keelson
Kelson
The kelson or keelson is the member which, particularly in a wooden vessel, lies parallel with its keel but above the transverse members such as timbers, frames or in a larger vessel, floors...
.
On 13 October Mignonne captured the French brig St. Antonio y les Animas, which was in ballast.
Fate
In December 1804 Mignonne was laid in the mud at Port RoyalPort Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
, Jamaica. She was then condemned.