British gun-brig 'Bustler' (1805)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
(1762)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
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Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
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Bustler
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	20.11.1804	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	3.1805	BWAS-1793
Launched	12.8.1805	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Topsham - Devon	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Confounder Class (1804)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Obidiah AylesBritish Ship Builder Service 1804-1805	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gun-brig	BWAS-1793
Captured	26.12.1808	BWAS-1793
Becomes	French brig 'Le Bustler' (1808) (14) 1808-1813 French 14 Gun Unrated Brig

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck84' 0 ¾"Imperial Feet25.6223
Length of Keel69' 8 ⅞"Imperial Feet21.0534
Breadth22' 1"Imperial Feet6.7183
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528
Burthen181 ²⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

12.8.1805Broadside Weight = 120 Imperial Pound ( 54.42 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck12 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser1 British 12-Pounder
Stern Chaser1 British 12-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
180450Design Complement

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
2.1806 - 1807LieutenantBWAS-17931807LieutenantBWAS-17931807 - 26.12.1808LieutenantBWAS-1793

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
1.7.1807 - 26.12.1808MidshipmanNBD1849

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
1.6.1806 - 6.18073rd Class BoyNBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
15.9.1805Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
14.9.1806Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
26.12.1808Taken by the French near Cap Gris-Nez while aground

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Tim Oakley on Wednesday 30th of March 2016 20:59

Stranded near Cape Gris Nez and lost to French

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20	F.F.	British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825 British 100 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line 1812 Renamed "Princess Royal" 1812 Renamed "Saint George" 1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon Miller	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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