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Le Curieux

11051
Nominal Guns16BWAS-1793
NationalityRépublique Française
OperatorState Navy
Keel Laid Down10.1799BWAS-1793
Launched20.9.1800BWAS-1793
First Commissioned20.2.1801FWAS1786
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1793
ShipyardSt Malo - Brittany BWAS-1793
Ship ClassCurieux Class (1799)FWAS1786
Designed by
François Timothée Benjamin PestelFrench
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1793-1821
BWAS-1793
Constructor
François Timothée Benjamin PestelFrench
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1793-1821
FWAS1786
CategoryUnratedBWAS-1793
Ship TypeBrigBWAS-1793
Sailing RigBrigBWAS-1793
Captured4.2.1804BWAS-1793
Becomes
British sloop 'Curieux' (1804) (18) 1804-1809
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentFWAS1786
Length of Gundeck86' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)27.9328 (91′ 7″ Imperial)
Length of Keel72' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)23.3856 (76′ 8″ Imperial)
Breadth26' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)8.4448 (27′ 8″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold13' 2"French Feet (Pied du Roi)4.2404 (13′ 10″ Imperial)
Displacement290Ton 
Burthen158French Tonneaux155.661 

Armament


4.2.1804Broadside Weight = 48 French Livre (51.8016 lbs 23.496 kg)W005
Gun Deck16 French 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1800100Establishment?W005
4.2.180470Crew when capturedW005

1 Ship Commander


DatesRankNameSource
1800 - 4.2.1804Capitaine de Frégate
Joseph-Marie-Emmanuel CordierFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1850
W005

2 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1800 - 4.2.1804Enseigne de Vaisseau
Jean-Joseph-Maurice JolyFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1850
W005
1800 - 4.2.1804Lieutenant de Frégate
Louis-Ange CheminantFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1850
W005

Service History


DateEventSource
3.2.1804Capture of the Curieux
4.2.1804Taken by
Centaur (74) 1797-1819
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
cut out at Port Royal



Notes on Ship



On the evening of the 3d of February four boats, containing 60 seamen and 12 marines, under the orders of Lieutenant [Robert Carthew Reynolds], of the Centaur, then at her old station off the Diamond, were detached to attempt the capture of the French brig-corvette Curieux, Capitaine de frégate [Joseph-Marie-Emmanuel Cordier], of 16 long 6-pounders and (supposed to have been about 100, but with only, as admitted) 70 men, lying at anchor close under Fort-Edouard at the entrance of the Carénage, Fort-Royal harbour, Martinique, victualled for three months, and all ready for a start to sea. Although the suspicion that an attack might be made by a part of the blockading force had led to every commendable precaution to prevent surprise ; such as, loading the carriage-guns with grape, and the swivels (of which there were eight) and wall-pieces with musket-balls, spreading on the quarterdeck and in the arm-chest the muskets, sabres, pistols, tomahawks, and pikes, filling the cartouch-boxes, pl

 
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