British gun-brig 'Swinger' (1794)

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Henry WickhamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1685-1693
Thomas CamelfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1799
John Clarke SearleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1811
Gunboat No. 7 (14) 1797-1802
British 14 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Sparkler"
(1797)
Swinger (12) 1794-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gun-brig
(1794)
Gunboat No. 23 (12) 1797-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Furious"
(1797)
Thomas HopperBritish
Marine
Service 1794-1802
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Service 1790-1807
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Swinger
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	6.3.1794	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	3.1794	BWAS-1793
Launched	31.5.1794	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Limehouse - London	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Conquest Class (1794)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Sir John HenslowBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1761-1801	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gun-brig	BWAS-1793
Sold	10.1802	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck75' 3"Imperial Feet22.8752
Length of Keel62' 7 ½"Imperial Feet18.9103
Breadth21' 0 ½"Imperial Feet6.4135
Depth in Hold7' 0 ½"Imperial Feet2.1463
Burthen147 ⁴⁵⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

31.5.1794Broadside Weight = 118 Imperial Pound ( 53.513 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck10 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 24-Pounder (Gover)
Stern Chaser2 British 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
3.179450Design Complement

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
2.1795 - 1.1797LieutenantBWAS-17939.1797 - 1800LieutenantBWAS-17931800 - 1802LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
31.5.1794Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
7.5.1795Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
1.1797coppering at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:08

Five gun vessels are to be stationed at Hof which is to be moored in Harwich harbour, for the protection of the Essex coast. During the last week, the Furious, Swinger, and Sparkler, the latter of which is to be moored in Harwich harbour, were appointed to this service. [Hampshire Chronicle, 6 January 1798]

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:20	Jon Miller	Henry WickhamBritish Naval Sailor Service 1685-1693
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:14	Jon Miller	Thomas CamelfordBritish Naval Sailor Service 1797-1799
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	John Clarke SearleBritish Naval Sailor Service 1780-1811
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:09	Jon Miller	British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 7' (1797) (14) 1797-1802 British 14 Gun Unrated Gunboat 1797 Renamed "Sparkler"
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:08	Jon Miller	British gun-brig 'Swinger' (1794) (12) 1794-1802 British 12 Gun Unrated Gun-brig

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