British Fifth Rate frigate 'Narcissus' (1801)

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Narcissus	5507
Nominal Guns	32	BWAS-1793
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	23.11.1797	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	2.1800	BWAS-1793
Launched	12.5.1801	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Narcissus Class (1798)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Sir John HenslowBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1761-1805	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Edward TippettBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1775-1793	BWAS-1793
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1793
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1793
Sold	1.1837	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck142' 0 ½"Imperial Feet43.2943
Length of Keel118' 4 ⅞"Imperial Feet35.9886
Breadth37' 8"Imperial Feet11.2776
Depth in Hold12' 6"Imperial Feet3.6576
Draught Forward10' 2"Imperial Feet3.048
Draught Aft14' 4"Imperial Feet4.2672
Burthen893 ⁵⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

12.5.1801Broadside Weight = 372 Imperial Pound ( 168.702 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck2 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 24-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
13.1.1798254Design Complement

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1.1801 - 10.1801CaptainBWAS-179310.1801 - 8.1806CaptainBWAS-17938.1806 - 7.1809CaptainBWAS-179320.7.1809 - 13.3.1812Captain Discharged ADM 196/3/3NBD18496.1812 - 1814CaptainBWAS-179310.2.1814 - 3.1815CaptainBWAS-17933.1815 - 6.1816CaptainBWAS-1793

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
27.5.1806 - 13.6.1806CommodoreBWAS-1793

3 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
7.1802 - 21.4.1803Acting Lieutenantref:61621.4.1803 - 9.1804Lieutenantref:61618.9.1806 - 16.1.1808LieutenantNBD1849

4 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
4.1802 - 7.1802Midshipmanref:6161806 - 3.1809MidshipmanNBD184924.10.1806 - 1809MidshipmanNBD184912.1808 - 7.1809MidshipmanNBD1849

2 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
10.2.1805 - 18061st Class VolunteerNBD184910.1806 - 12.18081st Class VolunteerNBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
2.1802Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1793
10.1802Off ToulonTRN5
8.7.1803Took the Brig off Sardinia
4.1.1804Off ToulonTRN5
11.7.1804Action at Lavandon
4.1805Sailed for Jamaica and the Cape of Good HopeBWAS-1793
29.10.1805Took the Privateer off the coast of Africa
24.12.1805Destroyed the near the Cape of Good HopeBWAS-1793
4.3.1806In Table BayTRN5
2.5.1806Left St HelenaTRN5
6.1806River Plate operationsBWAS-1793
8.6.1806Anchored off FloresTRN5
25.6.1806Anchored off Point Quilmes, in the Rio de la Plata near Buenos AiresTRN5
10.1806Left the River PlateBWAS-1793
18.8.1807Took the Schooner 45°20’N 10°20’ W
11.9.1807Took the Brig BG
3.1808Blockade of LorientBWAS-1793
16.12.1808Took the Privateer
16.12.1808Took the Privateer
19.1.1810Took the Brig BG
5.2.1810Took the Privateer BG
2.1812Began middling repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
3.1812Paid offBWAS-1793
6.1812RecommissionedBWAS-1793
8.1812Completed middling repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
29.9.1812Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1793
17.1.1813Took the Cutter
30.3.1813Took the Brig off Cape Henry
12.6.1813Took the Schooner by boats in the York River
6.1816Laid up at DeptfordBWAS-1793
7.1822Began fitting as a Receiving Ship at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
10.1823Completed fitting as a Receiving Ship at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
10.1823Began fitting as a Prison Ship at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
12.1823Completed fitting as a Prison Ship at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
7.1824fitting as an Hospital Ship at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
1.1837Sold to J. LevyBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

TRN5William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

ref:616Nicholas Tracy, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 19th of July 2026 10:00

Plymouth, 27 May 1801: Capt Frazer, of La Nymphe, 36, is appointed to the Narcissus, 36, a new ship, fitting out in the river Thames. [Exeter Flying Post, 4 June 1801]

Posted by Brian on Saturday 17th of May 2014 23:18

1813/06/12 Took the Unrated Schooner Surveyor by boats in the York River.
Letter from Captain Lumley, of his Majesty's ship Narcissus, to Rear Admiral Cockburn...giving an account of the boats of that ship having, on the 12th of June last, under the directions of Lieutenant John Cririe, first of teh Narcissus, and Lieutenant P. Savage of the Royal Marines, brought out from York river, in the Chesapeake, the Surveyor United States revenue schooner, carrying 6 guns, pierced for 12, and having 25 men on board. Three men in the boats were killed and six wounded, including Lieut's Cririe and Savage, slightly. The enemy had five wounded.

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