British cutter 'Ferret' (1763)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
(1762)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
Namur (74) 1746-1749
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3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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Ferret
Nominal Guns	6	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	30.4.1763	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	8.7.1763	BWAS-1714
Launched	8.10.1763	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Chatham Dockyard - Chatham	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Ferret Class (1763)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Edward AllinBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1750-1767	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Cutter	BWAS-1714
Sold	18.6.1781	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck50' 0"Imperial Feet15.24
Length of Keel39' 0"Imperial Feet11.8872
Breadth20' 0"Imperial Feet6.096
Depth in Hold7' 10"Imperial Feet2.1336
Burthen82 ⁹³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

8.10.1763Broadside Weight = 11 Imperial Pound ( 4.9887 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck6 British 3-Pounder
Gun Deck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.176330Design Complement

6 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
27.11.1763 - 26.3.1766Lieutenant TransferedBWAS-171423.9.1766 - 16.10.1770Lieutenant TransferedBWAS-171416.10.1770 - 21.9.1773Lieutenant TransferedBWAS-171421.9.1773 - 13.3.1776Lieutenant TransferedBWAS-171413.3.1776 - 26.1.1778LieutenantBWAS-171426.1.1778 - 30.5.1781LieutenantBWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
10.1763Commissioned for the Irish SeaBWAS-1714
8.10.1763building at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham at a cost of £1006.17.3dBWAS-1714
8.10.1763Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
26.3.1764Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
1778In the North SeaBWAS-1714
30.5.1781Paid offADM 51
18.6.1781Sold at Sheerness for £125BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 51 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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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
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon 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 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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