British Fifth Rate frigate 'Inconstant' (1783)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Recent Comments



Inconstant

4857
Nominal Guns36BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered8.12.1781BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down12.1782BWAS-1714
Launched28.10.1783BWAS-1714
First Commissioned8.1790BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardDeptford Green - Deptford - Barnards' Thames Yards BWAS-1714
Ship ClassPerseverance Class (1779)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Edward HuntBritish
Ship Builder
Administrator
Dockyard Staff
Service 1757-1809
BWAS-1714
Constructor
William BarnardBritish
Ship Builder
Service 1763-1795
BWAS-1714
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Broken Up11.1817BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck137' 9"Imperial Feet41.7638 
Length of Keel114' 2"Imperial Feet34.7508 
Breadth38' 3 ½"Imperial Feet11.5951 
Depth in Hold13' 5"Imperial Feet4.0047 
Burthen890 35⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


28.10.1783Broadside Weight = 354.5 Imperial Pound ( 160.7661 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck8 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

4.1798Broadside Weight = 84 Imperial Pound ( 38.094 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck16 British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck4 British 6-Pounder

1806Broadside Weight = 354.5 Imperial Pound ( 160.7661 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck8 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

6.1809Broadside Weight = 471 Imperial Pound ( 213.5985 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck12 British 32-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1779260Design Complement

12 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
1.12.1787Captain
David LairdBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1755-1807
ADM 6/23/439ADM 6/2330.8.1790 - 9.1791Captain
George WilsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1776-1810
ADM 6/24/63BWAS-17148.1.1793 - 1794Captain
Augustus MontgomeryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1794
ADM 6/24/192BWAS-17141.1794 - 2.1794Captain
George CockburnBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1851
BWAS-17141.1795 - 9.1797Captain
Thomas Francis FremantleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1819
BWAS-17144.1798 - 10.1799Commander
Milham PonsonbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1809
BWAS-171418.12.1799 - 20.4.1802Commander
John AyscoughBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1787-1849
Discharged ADM 196/3/4BWAS-171410.1802 - 12.1802Captain
Richard ByronBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1837
BWAS-171412.1802 - 1810Captain
Edward Stirling DicksonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1814
BWAS-171410.1810 - 12.1810Captain
John QuilliamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1815
BWAS-171412.1810 - 1812Captain
Edward William Campbell Rich OwenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
BWAS-17143.1814 - 1816Captain
Edward TuckerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1816
BWAS-1714

2 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1806 - 1808Rear-Admiral of the Red
Sir James Saumarez (1st Baronet)British
Naval Sailor
BWAS-17148.1815Commodore
Sir James Lucas YeoBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1818
BWAS-1714

17 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
30.8.1790 - 30.9.1790First Lieutenant
Mark WentworthBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/2430.8.1790 - 5.10.1790Second Lieutenant
Alexander GordonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1794
ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/2430.8.1790 - 23.1.1791Third Lieutenant
John HowdenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1793
ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/246.10.1790 - 21.3.1791First Lieutenant
Alexander GordonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1794
ADM 6/24/74ADM 6/2427.10.1790 - 23.1.1791Second Lieutenant
Francis Godolphin BondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1802
ADM 6/24/82ADM 6/2424.1.1791 - 21.3.1791First Lieutenant
Francis Godolphin BondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1802
ADM 6/24/104ADM 6/2424.1.1791 - 21.3.1791Second Lieutenant
John HowdenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1793
ADM 6/24/104ADM 6/2424.1.1791 - 7.1.1793Third Lieutenant
Pitt Burnaby GreeneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1814
ADM 6/24/104ADM 6/2422.3.1791 - 7.1.1793First Lieutenant
John HowdenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1793
ADM 6/24/111ADM 6/2424.3.1791 - 9.9.1791Second Lieutenant
Thomas Byam MartinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1785-1849
Transfered ADM 6/24/111ODNB8.1.1793 - 7.10.1793First Lieutenant
William PierrepontBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1812
Transfered ADM 6/24/192ADM 6/248.1.1793 - 13.10.1793Second Lieutenant
Thomas HaywardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1775-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/192ADM 6/248.1.1793 - 1793Third Lieutenant
Thomas LavieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1822
ADM 6/24/192ADM 6/249.10.1793 - 1793First Lieutenant
Thomas EdwardsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1778-1793
ADM 6/24/273ADM 6/249.10.1793 - 1793First Lieutenant
Henry LeycesterBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1796
ADM 6/24/273ADM 6/249.10.1793 - 1793Second Lieutenant
William HothamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1793
ADM 6/24/273ADM 6/241795Acting Lieutenant
Edward HutchinsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Administrator
Service 1782-1847
ADM 171/8

4 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
25.8.1783 - 8.2.1793Gunner
Joseph CollettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1801
ADM 196/1/23ADM 29-13.9.1790 - 6.9.1791Master
Alexander PhillipsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1795
ADM 29-19.1.1793 - 1795Master
John FryerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1812
31.8.1816 - 31.8.1817Master
James CrearBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1814-1822
ref:1871

2 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
1804 - 1.5.1804Midshipman
James GrantBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1804
†ref:18511808Midshipman
Philip BowdenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1815
NBD1849

5 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
1795Able Seaman
William SpencerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795
ADM 171/81795Able Seaman
Edward WilliamsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1847
ADM 171/81795Landman
Robert ReidBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795
ADM 171/81815 - 11.8.1815Seaman
Philip CravenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1815
†ref:19981815 - 13.9.1815Seaman
John JacksonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1815
†ref:1998

Service History


DateEventSource
22.3.1783Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
23.10.1783building at Deptford Green - Deptford - Barnards' Thames Yards at a cost of £16226.0.1dBWAS-1714
28.10.1783Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
6.1790Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
3.11.1790Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £6627.0.0dBWAS-1714
9.1791Paid offBWAS-1714
1.1793RecommissionedBWAS-1714
1.1793Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
2.1793Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £7239.0.0dBWAS-1714
4.1793Sailed to the West IndiesBWAS-1714
3.6.1793Took the Brig-Aviso
Le Curieux (6) 1788-1793
French 6 Gun
Unrated Brig-Aviso

7.1793Returned to EnglandBWAS-1714
21.11.1793Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
14.3.1795Action off Genoa
25.3.1795Took the Brig
Le Speedy (14) 1794-1795
French 14 Gun
Unrated Brig

8.1795off VadoBWAS-1714
20.4.1796Took the Corvette
L'Unité (32) 1794-1796
French 32 Gun
6th Rate Corvette
at BomaBG
26.6.1796Evacuation of LeghornBWAS-1714
9.1797Paid offBWAS-1714
3.1798Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
4.1798RecommissionedBWAS-1714
4.1798Refitted as a 20 gun Unrated Troop Ship
6.1798Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £7193.0.0dBWAS-1714
28.1.1799

Sailed from Portsmouth for Guernsey

TNC
7.4.1799

Sailed from Portsmouth for Dublin with troops, armed en-flute.

TNC
10.1799Paid offBWAS-1714
10.1799Began refitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
12.1799RecommissionedBWAS-1714
3.1800Completed refitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £4787.0.0dBWAS-1714
1.6.1800Operation in Quiberon Bay
1801Operations off EgyptBWAS-1714
10.1803Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
12.1803Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
12.1805Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1806Flagship in the Channel Islands until 1808BWAS-1714
2.1806Refitted as a 36 gun Fifth Rate Frigate
2.1806Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
9.1808Began large repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
6.1809RecommissionedBWAS-1714
10.1809Completed large repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1810Paid offBWAS-1714
9.1810Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
10.1810RecommissionedBWAS-1714
11.1810Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
12.1810Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by AvM on Monday 10th of July 2017 15:16

Hampshire Chronicle - Monday 20 October 1817
Royal Cornwall Gazette - Saturday 01 November 1817

The Inconstant has been taken into dock, at Portsmouth, to be repaired; but v,as found »o extensively defective, that it is expected she will be broken up.

Make a comment about this page






Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20F.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 20:01James Daschuk
British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56AvM
British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37Jon 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 19:33Jon Miller
British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2026, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement