British gun-brig 'Swinger' (1804)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
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1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
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Swinger
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	9.1.1804	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	4.1804	BWAS-1793
Launched	9.1804	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Topsham - Devon	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Archer Class (1800)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Robert DavyBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gun-brig	BWAS-1793
Broken Up	6.1812	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck80' 0"Imperial Feet24.384
Length of Keel65' 10 ¼"Imperial Feet19.8184
Breadth22' 7"Imperial Feet6.7945
Depth in Hold9' 5"Imperial Feet2.8702
Burthen178 ⁶¹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

9.1804Broadside Weight = 108 Imperial Pound ( 48.978 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck10 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 18-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
12.180050Design Complement

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
9.1804 - 1807LieutenantBWAS-17931807 - 1808LieutenantBWAS-17931808 - 1809LieutenantBWAS-17931809 - 1810LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
9.1804Began fitting at Topsham - Devon BWAS-1793
27.11.1804Completed fitting at Topsham - Devon BWAS-1793
25.5.1805Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1793
30.3.1808Capture of Desirade
28.1.1809Capture of Martinique
6.1812Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Sylvia Guthrig on Thursday 8th of June 2023 10:42

Had a family member who fought at Trafalgar but who died on board The Swinger in October 1809 and is buried on Grenada.

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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
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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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