HMS Cerberus (1794) - French Revolutionary Wars

French Revolutionary Wars

Cerberus was launched in September 1794 by Henry Adams, of Bucklers Hard. Her first commander was Captain J. Drew, who took command of her in January 1795 for the Irish station.

On 29 March 1795 she was sailing with Santa Margarita when the two engaged and captured the 18-gun Jean Bart in the English Channel. The Royal Navy subsequently took the Jean Bart into service as Arab.

Among the ships that shared in the prize money for the recapture of the ship Caldicot Castle and Jean Bart on 28 and 30 March were Astraea, London, Colossus, Robust, Hannibal, Valiant, Thalia, Cerberus and Santa Margarita.

In July 1796, Cerberus and Seahorse took the privateer cutter Calvados (or Salvados). Calvados carried six guns and ten swivels, and had a crew of 38 men. She was ten days out of Brest, France, but had not made any captures.

Joined by Diana, Cerberus and Seahorse captured the 14-gun privateer Indemnité on 28 August. Indemnité, of Boulogne, was pierced for 14 guns but carried ten. She had a crew of 68 men.

On 14 September 1796, Cerberus, Seahorse and Diana captured the Brazilian ship Santa Cruz.

Also in September, Cerberus captured the French privateer cutter Didon. Didon was armed with four brass 4-pounder guns, swivels and small arms. She had a crew of 30 men and was nine days out of Greville, having taken nothing.

Cerberus, in company with Magnanime and Diana, chased the privateer brig Franklin into the hands of Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron on 1 November. Franklin carried twelve 9-pounder guns and a crew of 80 men. On 4 November Cerberus recaptured the ship Friendship, from Cape of Good Hope.

On 5 November, Cerberus took the privateer cutter Hirondelle (ex-Sans Culotte). Hirondelle was armed with ten 6-pounder guns of which she had thrown six overboard during the chase, and had a crew of 63 men. The next day Cerberus recaptured the Jackson Junior, from Jamaica. Hirondelle, Franklin (or Franklyn) and three privateers that Santa Margarita and Dryad had captured had formed a small squadron that had left Brest to scour the English Channel.

On 11 May 1797, Cerberus was on her way back to Cork from convoying vessels towards Newfoundland and the West Indies when she captured the French privateer Dungerquoise. Dunkerquoise had been armed with eighteen 9-pounder guns but had thrown most overboard while Cerberus chased her. Dunquerquoise also had a crew of 100 men.

Cerberus was in company with Diana, when Diana took the cutter Neptune on 12 September and after a nine-hour chase. Neptune was armed with 12 guns and had a crew of 55 men. She was three days out of Lorient and had taken no prizes. Five days later, Cerberus and Diana recaptured the Albion.

Then on 27 September, Cerberus brought into Cork the Spanish privateer schooner San Noberta. San Norberta was armed with four carriage guns plus some swivels, and had a crew of 42 men. Cerberus also recaptured the Danish ship Graff Bernstorff, which was carrying a cargo of iron and grain from St. Michael's to Lisbon. Cerberus shared in the prize money with Diana and Kangaroo.

On 12 November Cerberus took the French privateer Epervier. Epervier was armed with sixteen 4-pounder guns and had a crew of 145 men. (The Royal Navy registered her as HMS Epervier, but never commissioned her.) The next day, Cerberus recaptured the Adelphi, prize to Epervier. The day after that, Cerberus captured the French privateer Renard. Renard carried eighteen 6-pounder guns and had a crew of 189 men.

Cerberus also chased the privateer Buonaparte but failed to capture the French ship after Cerberus's studding sails and top gallant mast been carried away. Buonaparte was armed with 32 guns and had a crew of 250 men. Apparently, in order to escape Cerberus, Buonaparte threw many of her guns and stores overboard, necessitating her return to Bordeaux.

On 11 January 1798 Captain Drew, his nephew Lieutenant James Drew, Captain John Pulling and some ten men in Cerberus's pinnace drowned in a boat accident in Plymouth. Captain James Macnamara (or M'Namara) replaced Drew.

On 24 October, Cerberus and Diana captured the Duntzfelt. About seven weeks later, on 10 December Cerberus recaptured the General Woolf (or General Wolff).

In July 1799 Cerberus recaptured the Philanthropist. On 28 September, Cerberus captured the French letter of marque Echange. The Echange was pierced for 14 guns but carried only 10. She and her crew of 40 men were six days out of Bordeaux and she was sailing to San Domingo with a cargo of bale goods and wine.

On 8 October Cerberus captured the French schooner Esperance. Next day, Cerberus was among the many British ships that shared in the proceeds of the capture of the Nostra Senora de la Solidad. Seven days later, Arethusa and Cerberus captured the Purissima Conceptione.

On 20 October, Cerberus encountered a Spanish convoy some eight or nine leagues off Cape Ortegal. The convoy comprised some 80 vessels escorted by four frigates and two brig-corvettes. At one time or another Cerberus engaged all the frigates, including firing from both broadsides at the same time. Outnumbered, Cerberus eventually withdrew, but not before she had captured and set fire to a brig from the convoy. Despite the often close action, Cerberus suffered only four men wounded.

In July 1800, Cerberus recaptured the Active. On 13 September 1801, Cerberus sailed for Cowes to take troop from there to Jersey. She then was to proceed to Ireland.