British sloop 'Vulture' (1776)

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Robert BaylisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1795
La Cantabré (14) 1798-1798
French 14 Gun
Privateer Brig
(1798)
Cambrian (40) 1797-1828
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
Kingfisher (18) 1782-1798
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1782)
La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
French 18 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1798)
Phaeton (38) 1782-1828
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1782)
Seahorse (38) 1794-1819
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1807
Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
Sir Graham Eden HamondBritish
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Vulture
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	30.10.1775	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	11.1775	BWAS-1714
Named	17.11.1775	BWAS-1714
Launched	18.3.1776	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	14.3.1776	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford - London	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Swan Class (1766)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1784	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John & William WellsBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	9.1805	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck96' 9 ½"Imperial Feet29.2735
Length of Keel79' 2"Imperial Feet24.0848
Breadth26' 10 ¾"Imperial Feet7.9439
Depth in Hold12' 11"Imperial Feet3.6703
Draught Forward7' 4"Imperial Feet2.2352
Draught Aft11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528
Burthen304 ⁵⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

18.3.1776Broadside Weight = 45 Imperial Pound ( 20.4078 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck14 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel
Forecastle4 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

1780Broadside Weight = 51 Imperial Pound ( 23.1288 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck16 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel
Forecastle4 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
8.5.1766125Design Complement

16 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
14.3.1776 - 13.6.1776Commander Transfered ADM 6/21/169ADM 6/2113.6.1776 - 14.11.1778Commander Dismissed ADM 6/21/195BWAS-171414.11.1778 - 4.11.1780CommanderBWAS-17144.11.1780 - 27.11.1780Commander ADM 6/22/281BWAS-171427.11.1780 - 5.12.1780Commander ADM 6/22/203BWAS-17145.12.1780 - 7.5.1781CommanderBWAS-17147.5.1781 - 22.7.1781Commander ADM 6/22/524
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 5.10.1782BWAS-171422.7.1781 - 29.11.1781CommanderBWAS-171429.11.1781 - 13.2.1782Commander Transfered ADM 6/22/414
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 26.2.1782BWAS-171413.2.1782 - 19.11.1781Commander ADM 6/23/169
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 2.12.1783ADM 6/2314.9.1783 - 19.11.1783Commander ADM 6/23/189
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 30.1.1784ADM 6/2326.8.1789 - 28.5.1790Commander ADM 6/23/541ADM 6/234.1791 - 23.12.1792Lieutenant ADM 6/24/417BWAS-171424.12.1792 - 18.6.1793Lieutenant ADM 6/24/187ADM 6/2419.6.1793 - 1798Lieutenant ADM 6/24/417ADM 6/241799 - 24.9.1805LieutenantBWAS-1714

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
16.3.1776 - 13.6.1776Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/21/170ADM 6/2114.6.1790 - 24.12.1792Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/40ADM 6/24

4 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
26.7.1776 - 8.6.1790CarpenterADM 29-15.3.1787 - 20.7.1788GunnerADM 29-114.6.1790 - 31.3.1802CarpenterADM 29-11.4.1792 - 31.3.1802GunnerADM 29-1

Service History

DateEventSource
11.1775Began building at Deptford - London BWAS-1714
18.3.1776Completed building at Deptford - London at a cost of £2580.8.1dBWAS-1714
27.3.1776Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
26.7.1776Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2627.2.2dBWAS-1714
21.7.1781Action of 1781-07-21
15.9.1781Took the Brig
23.2.1783Took the Privateer
1.4.1783Took the Brigantine
11.1783coppering at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
19.11.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
12.1783Laid up at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
5.1790RecommissionedBWAS-1714
5.1790Refitted as a Unrated Storeship
4.1791Refitted as a Unrated Slop Ship
12.1792fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £1859.0.0dBWAS-1714
8.1802Sold at PortsmouthBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 29-1 Document

ADM 6/21 Archive

ADM 6/23 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:19	Jon Miller	Robert BaylisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1795
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:17	Jon Miller	French Privateer brig 'La Cantabré' (1798) (14) 1798-1798 French 14 Gun Privateer Brig
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:16	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Cambrian' (1797) (40) 1797-1828 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Kingfisher' (1782) (18) 1782-1798 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Résolue' (1798) (18) 1798-1798 French 18 Gun Privateer Unknown

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