British Fifth Rate frigate 'Prudente' (1779)

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Prudente

6012
Nominal Guns38BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Previously
French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Prudente' (1778) (32) 1778-1779
French 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Captured2.6.1779BWAS-1714
ShipyardSt Malo - Brittany NNF-1774
Ship ClassIphigenie Class (1777)NNF-1774
Designed by
Leon-Michel GuignaceFrench
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1751-1802
NNF-1774
Constructor
Louis Marie Marion de la BrillantaisFrench
Ship Owner
Ship Builder
Administrator
Service 1781
NNF-1774
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Sold3.1.1803BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1774
Length of Gundeck140' 6 ½"Imperial Feet42.6847 
Length of Keel118' 8 ⅛"Imperial Feet35.9696 
Breadth37' 11 ½"Imperial Feet11.2903 
Depth in Hold11' 8"Imperial Feet3.556 
Burthen909 52⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


3.1780Broadside Weight = 246 Imperial Pound ( 111.561 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck10 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle6 British 18-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1780255 BWAS-1714

3 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
3.1780 - 21.3.1782Captain
William WaldegraveBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1810
TransferedBWAS-171421.3.1782 - 11.1782Captain
The Hon. Charles FitzgeraldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1778-1808
ADM 6/22/428BWAS-171410.5.1790 - 22.12.1790Captain
Henry TrollopeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1825
Transfered ADM 6/24/26BWAS-1714

3 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
5.10.1790 - 19.10.1790Second Lieutenant
Christopher Masterman ClutterbuckBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1793
ADM 6/24/74ADM 6/2420.10.1790 - 4.2.1791First Lieutenant
Christopher Masterman ClutterbuckBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/80ADM 6/2420.10.1790 - 13.11.1792Second Lieutenant
Thomas WhiteBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1821
Transfered ADM 6/24/80ADM 6/24

1 Petty Officer


DatesRatingNameSource
1.7.1790 - 2.12.1790Midshipman
George Vandepot CrosbeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1815

1 Crewman


DatesRatingNameSource
22.5.1790 - 30.6.1790Able Seaman
George Vandepot CrosbeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1815

Service History


DateEventSource
22.9.1779RegisteredBWAS-1714
14.11.1779Began coppering and fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
5.7.1780Action off Cape Ortegal
1781Sailed to the relief of GibraltarBWAS-1714
26.1.1781Took the Frigate
L'Américain (32) 1778-1781
French 32 Gun
Privateer Frigate
in the Channel
12.12.17812nd Battle of Ushant
16.2.1782Took the Frigate
L'Aigle (40) 1780-1782
French 40 Gun
Merchant Frigate

25.4.1782Took the Cutter
Le Marquis de Castries (18) 1781-1782
French 18 Gun
Privateer Cutter
off Cape Clear, after 36 hours chace.BG
11.1782Paid offBWAS-1714
5.1790RecommissionedBWAS-1714
5.1790Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
7.1790Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £3089.0.0dBWAS-1714
4.1796Refitted as a Unrated Receiving Ship
4.1796fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
80.40.7800Completed coppering and fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £10746.16.9dBWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 30th of May 2026 15:10

Wednesday night a fatal accident happened in the harbour of Portsmouth. A waterman, of the name of Pounce, insisting upon going on board La Prudente, in defiance of a warning given him by the Lieutenant on watch, was shot through the head by the centinel, who fired at him agreeably to the orders of the commanding officer. [London Courier, 24 October 1801]

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