American Privateer packet 'Mercury' (1780)

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Recent Comments

Puissant (74) 1793-1816
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1793)
Stork (16) 1796-1816
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1796)
David HotchkisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1797
Sandwich (90) 1759-1810
British 90 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
(1759)
Bedford (74) 1775-1817
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(1775)
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Mercury
Nominal Guns	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	Private Owners
Acquired	1780	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Privateer	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Packet	BWAS-1714
Captured	10.9.1780	TRN4

Service History

DateEventSource
1780Taken by
10.9.1780On September 10th, a capture of great importance was made by Captain George Keppel in the Vestal, aided by the Fairy This was the American packet Mercury from Philadelphia, with the American minister to Holland, and important dispatches, on board. The dispatches, as usual, were thrown into the sea when capture was inevitable, but not being weighted they did not sink; and an English sailor leapt overboard and picked them up. Amongst them was a treaty between the United States and Holland, which betrayed the Dutch intentions of war.TRN4

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

TRN4William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:37	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Puissant' (1793) (74) 1793-1816 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:33	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Stork' (1796) (16) 1796-1816 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:28	Jon Miller	David HotchkisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1779-1797
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:21	Jon Miller	British Second Rate ship of the line 'Sandwich' (1759) (90) 1759-1810 British 90 Gun 2nd Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:18	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Bedford' (1775) (74) 1775-1817 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

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