HMS Leopard (1794)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Leopard.

HMS Leopard was a 4-gun gun-vessel, formerly a Dutch hoy, purchased in February 1794. She was fitted out at Deptford between April and 13 May, and commissioned under Lieutenant Benjamin Maitland. She was paid off in January 1795. Lieutenant Benjamin Rose recommissioned her in June.^[1]

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Leopard
Acquired	By purchase (Admiralty Order 3 February 1794)
Fate	Sold 1808
General characteristics [1]
Type	Hoy
Tons burthen	65 (bm)
Length	Overall: 66 ft 4 in (20.2 m) Keel: 57 ft 11+1⁄2 in (17.7 m)
Beam	14 ft 6 in (4.4 m)
Depth of hold	6 ft 3+1⁄2 in (1.9 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	sloop
Complement	30
Armament	1 × 24-pounder gun + 3 × 32-pounder carronades

Although some records indicate that Leopard was broken up a Sheerness in April 1795, that appears to be in contradiction both with Lieutenant Ross's appointment to her, and other records that indicate that the Navy used her as a pitch boat from 1796 before selling her in 1808. The Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy offered the "pitch boat Leopard" for sale on 6 October 1808.^[2]