British cutter 'Alarm' (1763)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
John WalkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1803
Update
Pylades (16) 1794-1815
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
Update
George Stevenson WintourBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1824
Update
Arrogant (74) 1761-1810
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
Excellent (74) 1787-1835
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
Edward MarshBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1801
Added
Charles ProbyBritish
Dockyard Staff
Clergyman
Service 1794
Update
Justus ThompsonBritish
Dockyard Staff
Service 1774
Update
John ThompsonBritish
Dockyard Staff
Service 1787-1794
Added
William GilbertBritish
Dockyard Staff
Service 1794
See more...

Recent Comments

Bienfaisant (64) 1758-1814
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1758)
Monarch (74) 1765-1813
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1765)
Diana (32) 1757-1793
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1757)
Queen (90) 1769-1811
British 90 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
(1769)
Defence (74) 1762-1811
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1762)
Royal George (100) 1756-1782
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
(1756)
Alfred (74) 1778-1814
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1778)
Greyhound (4) 1779-1781
British 4 Gun
Privateer Lugger
(1779)
Timothy EdwardsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1780
Cornwall (74) 1761-1780
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1761)
See more...

Alarm
Nominal Guns	6	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	31.1.1763	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	4.1763	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Cutter	BWAS-1714
Sold	23.10.1780	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck53' 3"Imperial Feet16.1798
Length of Keel39' 11"Imperial Feet11.89
Breadth19' 6 ½"Imperial Feet5.8039
Depth in Hold8' 3"Imperial Feet2.5146
Burthen81 ⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

4.1763Broadside Weight = 11.5 Imperial Pound ( 5.2155 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck6 British 3-Pounder
Gun Deck10 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.176330 BWAS-1714

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
14.4.1763 - 27.11.1763Lieutenant TransferedBWAS-171427.11.1763 - 27.11.1765LieutenantBWAS-171429.11.1765 - 27.6.1770LieutenantBWAS-171428.6.1770 - 6.5.1771LieutenantBWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
30.1763Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
31.1.1763Purchased at Unknown at a cost of £450.0.0dBWAS-1714
4.1763Commissioned for the Orkneys and Isle of SkyeBWAS-1714
17.7.1763Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £536.1.5dBWAS-1714
1770Moved to the Firth of ForthBWAS-1714
6.5.1771

Paid off

ADM 51
20.10.1778Paid offADM 51
28.8.1780Paid offADM 34
23.10.1780Sold at Sheerness for £255BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 34 Document

ADM 51 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 17th of June 2026 16:55

Plymouth, 19 December 1780: Since my last arrived the Eulalie, a French prize, laden with wine, fro Bordeaux, to Brest, taken by the Defiance privateer of Jersey; A French brig privateer of 18 guns, and 140 men, taken by his Majesty’s frigate the Monsieur; the Folton, of Ostend, laden with tar and rozin; and the Sophia, a Swedish vessel laden with hemp, pitch, and tar, both sent in by his Majesty’s ship Alarm. [Exeter Flying Post, 22 December 1780]

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:36	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Bienfaisant' (1758) (64) 1758-1814 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:33	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Monarch' (1765) (74) 1765-1813 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:28	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Diana' (1757) (32) 1757-1793 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:26	Jon Miller	British Second Rate ship of the line 'Queen' (1769) (90) 1769-1811 British 90 Gun 2nd Rate Ship of the Line
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:21	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Defence' (1762) (74) 1762-1811 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

GDPR Statement