HMS Marquis de Seignelay (1780)

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Marquis de Seignaly
History
French Royal Navy EnsignFrance
NameMarquis de Seignelay
NamesakeJean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay
Launched1779
CapturedOn 8 January 1780, by the Royal Navy
Great Britain
NameHMS Marquis de Seignelay
Acquired10 December 1780 by capture
FateSold 1786
General characteristics [1][2]
Class and type16-gun ship-sloop
Tons burthen
  • Privateer:280 (French; "of load")
  • HMS:2817494 (bm)
Length
  • 97 ft 2 in (29.6 m) (overall)
  • 76 ft 10+34 in (23.4 m) (keel)
Beam26 ft 3 in (8.0 m)
Depth of hold14 ft 1 in (4.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Complement
  • Privateer:150–160
  • HMS:110
Armament
  • Privateer:20 × 8-pounder guns + 8 swivel guns
  • HMS:14 × 6-pounder guns

HMS Marquis de Seignelay, was the French privateer Marquis de Seignelay from Le Havre, active in 1779–1800. The British Royal Navy captured her in 1780 and recommissioned her as the 14-gun sloop HMS Marquis de Seignelay. She was sold in March 1786.

Privateer[edit]

Between 1779 and December 1780, Marquis de Seignelay, under the command of François Cottin, captured 40 ships totaling 117 guns and 418 prisoners.[3]

Lloyd's List reported on 28 January 1780 that the French privateer Marquis of Seignety, of Dunkirk, with 160 men, had captured Harpooner, Hill, master, of 56 men and boys. The action had lasted two hours and Marquis had taken Harpooner into Havre de Grace.[4]

Capture[edit]

On 9 December 1780 HMS Solebay and Portland captured two French privateers behind the Isle of Wight after a short action. The two were Comptesse of Buzanisis, Lux, master, and Marques de Seiguley. Each had a crew of 150 men. Comptesse was armed with twenty 12-pounder guns and Marques was armed with twenty 9-pounder guns. In the action Solebay had one man wounded, and Portland had nine, two of whom died later. Comptesse of Buzanisis was believed to have been the English privateer Harpooner.[5][a]

British Royal Navy[edit]

The Royal Navy commissioned Marquis de Seignelay (or Marquise de Seignelly) in November 1782. John Hunter was appointed to Commander in her on 12 November 1782. She was paid off in February 1786. The Navy sold her on 23 March.[1] Hunter was promoted to post captain on 15 December 1786.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Comtesse de Buzençois was a privateer active in November and December 1780 under André Lux. After the British captured her in December 1780 she was taken to Southampton. French records do not mention whether or not she was a former British privateer.[6]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Demerliac (2004), p. 181, n°1770.
  2. ^ Lyon (1993), p. 221.
  3. ^ Demerliac (2004), p. 181, no.1770.
  4. ^ LL №1132.
  5. ^ LL №1224.
  6. ^ Demerliac (2004), p. 182, n°1775.

References[edit]

  • Demerliac, Alain (2004). La Marine de Louis XVI: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 À 1792 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-906381-23-3.
  • Lyon, David (1993). The sailing navy list: all the ships of the Royal Navy: built, purchased and captured 1688-1860. London: Conway Maritime.