American Privateer ship 'Belisarius' (1781)

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Recent Comments

Henry BlaxtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1767-1794
Ambuscade (36) 1798-1813
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1804 Renamed "Seine"
(1798)
Espiegle (16) 1793-1802
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1793)
Romulus (36) 1785-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1785)
Romulus (36) 1785-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1785)
Acasta (40) 1797-1821
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
Ambuscade (36) 1798-1813
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1804 Renamed "Seine"
(1798)
Sir Edward Joseph Hamilton (1^st Baronet of Marlborough House)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
Centaur (74) 1797-1819
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1797)
Achille (74) 1798-1865
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1798)
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Belisarius
Nominal Guns	20	NRAR
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	Massachusetts State Navy
Launched	1781	NRAR
First Commissioned	14.4.1781	NRAR
Home Port	Boston - Massachusetts	NRAR
How acquired	Purpose built	NRAR
Shipyard	Boston - Massachusetts	NRAR
Constructor	PaulAmerican Ship Builder	NRAR
Category	Privateer	NRAR
Ship Type	Ship	NRAR
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NRAR
Captured	4.8.1781	BWAS-1714
Becomes	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Belisarius' (1781) (20) 1781-1783 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW027
Length of Gundeck118' 9"Imperial Feet35.9791
Length of Keel100' 8"Imperial Feet30.6832
Breadth30' 2"Imperial Feet9.1948
Depth in Hold15' 0"Imperial Feet4.572
Burthen487Ton

Armament

14.4.1781Broadside Weight = 90 Imperial Pound ( 40.815 kg)W027
Gun Deck20 American 9-Pounder

12.9.1781Broadside Weight = 102 Imperial Pound ( 46.257 kg)W027
Gun Deck20 American 9-Pounder
Gun Deck4 American 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
13.8.1780150 W027
14.4.1781200 NRAR
6.8.1781147 W027

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
14.4.1781 - 6.8.1781Captain (Privateer)NRAR

Service History

DateEventSource
4.8.1781Taken by
4.8.1781Taken by
4.8.1781Taken by
12.9.1781Issued with a Letter of Marque as a 24 gun Privateer Ship

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

NRARAuthority, Digital Book

W027Ken Kellow, Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:36	Jon Miller	Henry BlaxtonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1767-1794
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:35	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ambuscade' (1798) (36) 1798-1813 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate 1804 Renamed "Seine"
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:33	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Espiegle' (1793) (16) 1793-1802 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:29	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Romulus' (1785) (36) 1785-1816 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:28	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Romulus' (1785) (36) 1785-1816 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

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