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French corvette Naïade (1780)
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Naïade was a 20-gun Coquette-class corvette. She took part in the Indian theatre of the Anglo-French War with the squadron under Suffren. The British Royal Navy captured her in 1783 but never commissioned her; it sold her in 1784.
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French service
On 11 February 1782, Naïade departed Brest. She called Isle de France (Mauritius) and arrived at Cuddalore on 10 March 1782 to support the squadron under Suffren.[1]
In November 1782, she was at Ceylon under Costebelle.[2]
On 11 April, Captaine de Brûlot Villaret de Joyeuse was given command of Naïade.[3] Suffren sent her to Madras to warn the French blockading squadron, composed of the 74-gun Fendant,[4] the 64-gun Saint-Michel and the frigates Cléopâtre and Coventry, of the imminent arrival of a superior British force.[5] Three days after her departure, on 11 April 1783, Naïade spotted the 64-gun HMS Sceptre,[6] under Captain Graves;[7] after trying without success to elude his much stronger opponent, Villaret was forced into battle, and struck his colours after a five-hour fight.[8][9][5][7] When Villaret surrendered his sword, Graves allegedly told him "Sir, you have given us a fairly beautiful frigate, but you made us pay dearly for her!";[5] some authors add that Graves returned Villaret his sword.[1]
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British service
The British armed Naïade with twenty-two 12-pounder guns, and two 18-pounder and six 12-pounder carronade, but never commissioned her. [10] From 26 April 1783, she was under Lieutenant Richard Strachan.
Fate
Naïade was sold on 17 August 1784.[10]
Citations
References
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