HMS Proserpine (1777)
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| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Great Britain | |
| Name | HMS Proserpine |
| Ordered | 14 May 1777 |
| Builder | John Barnard, Harwich |
| Laid down | June 1776 |
| Launched | 7 July 1777 |
| Completed | 23 September 1777 (at Sheerness Dockyard) |
| Commissioned | 25 July 1777 |
| Fate | Wrecked 1 February 1799 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen | 595 37⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 33 ft 7+1⁄2 in (10.2 m) |
| Depth of hold | 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 200 officers and men |
| Armament |
|
HMS Proserpine was a 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1777 was wrecked in February 1799.
Proserpine was first commissioned in July 1777 under the command of Captain Evelyn Sutton.
On 20 October 1779, Proserpine captured the French 26-gun frigate Alcmène, off Martinique. Alcmène had been severely damaged by a storm, and had thrown most of her guns overboard to stay afloat.[1]
On 29 November 1779 Proserpine recaptured Sphinx (or Sphynx).[2] She had been in French hands for three to four months.[3]
On 26 June 1793 the Jamaica fleet returning to England sailed from Bluefields, Jamaica, under escort by Proserpine, the sloops Fly and Serpent, and the troop transport Europa. The only incident appears to have occurred in early July. On 4 July a gale forced the merchant ship Amity Hall away from the fleet, but she sighted it again on 5 July. As Amity Hall was rejoining the fleet on 6 July she collided with the merchant ship Albion. Albion's crew abandoned her and Amity Hall took them on board. The accident gave rise to a tort court case that Amity Hall's owners lost to Albion's owners on the grounds that Amity Hall's master had not followed the sailing instructions that Captain Alms of Proserpine had issued on setting out.[4]
On 16 March 1794 Penelope captured the French brick-aviso, Goéland, off Jérémie.[5] Proserpine shared in the prize money, suggesting that she was in company with, or in sight of, Penelope. The Royal Navy briefly took Goéland into service as HMS Goelan.
On 26 March 1798 Proserpine, Captain James Wallis, captured the Danish merchant ship Neptunus.[6]
Proserpine was part of Admiral Duncan's squadron and so shared in the proceeds of the capture of Hoop (6 June 1798), Neptune (12 June), Stadt Embden (14 June), Rose and Endraft (14 June), Hoop (15 June), and Vrow Dorothea (16 June).[7]
