French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Courtisan' (1686)

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Gunboat No. 10 (14) 1797-1802
British 14 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Biter"
(1797)
Racoon (16) 1795-1806
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1795)
Lord Horatio Nelson (1^st Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1771-1804
Margaret (4) 1785-1798
British 4 Gun
Hired Tender
(1785)
Margaret (4) 1785-1798
British 4 Gun
Hired Tender
(1785)
Le Coureur (24) 1798-1798
French 24 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1798)
Jason (38) 1794-1798
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Amelia (38) 1796-1816
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1796)
General Eliott (Unknown) 1782-1802
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1782)
Gunboat No. 30 (12) 1797-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Hardy"
(1797)
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Le Courtisan
Nominal Guns	64	FWAS1626
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	1686	FWAS1626
Launched	10.1686	FWAS1626
First Commissioned	4.1687	FWAS1626
How acquired	Purpose built	FWAS1626
Shipyard	Rochefort Dockyard - Rochefort	FWAS1626
Designed by	Honoré MalletFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1679-1698	FWAS1626
Constructor	Honoré MalletFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1679-1698	FWAS1626
Category	Third Rate	FWAS1626
National Rate	Troisième Rang	W033
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	W033
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	W033
Burnt	5.1702	FWAS1626

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW033
Length of Gundeck141' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)45.7968 (150′ 2″ Imperial)
Breadth37' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.0408 (39′ 6″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 11"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5255 (18′ 1″ Imperial)
Burthen1,100Ton
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentFWAS1626
Length of Gundeck144' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)46.7712 (153′ 5″ Imperial)
Breadth37' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.0408 (39′ 6″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 11"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5255 (18′ 1″ Imperial)
Draught Forward16' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.1968 (17′ 0″ Imperial)
Draught Aft19' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.1712 (20′ 2″ Imperial)
Burthen1.050Tonneaux

Armament

1687Broadside Weight = 486 French Livre (524.4912 lbs 237.897 kg)W033
Lower Gun Deck24 French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle14 French 6-Pounder

1688Broadside Weight = 454 French Livre (489.9568 lbs 222.233 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck10 French 24-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck16 French 8-Pounder
Pivot Mount24 French 12-Pounder

1696Broadside Weight = 486 French Livre (524.4912 lbs 237.897 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck24 French 24-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck26 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck14 French 6-Pounder

1696Broadside Weight Unknownref:1837
Gun Deck66 French Canons de Fer

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.1687387 FWAS1626
1696380 ref:1837

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1690Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871692Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871696Chef d'Escadreref:1837

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1697Lieutenant-GénéralFWAS1626

Service History

DateEventSource
1687Rerated as a Second RangFWAS1626
30.6.1690Battle of Beachy Head
19.5.1692Battle of Barfleur
1696

At Toulon .

ref:1837

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

FWAS1626Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

W033Ronald Deschenes, Web Site

ref:1837 Digital Book

ref:687Philippe de Vilette-Mursay, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:37	Jon Miller	British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 10' (1797) (14) 1797-1802 British 14 Gun Unrated Gunboat 1797 Renamed "Biter"
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:36	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Racoon' (1795) (16) 1795-1806 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:35	Jon Miller	Lord Horatio Nelson (1^st Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough)British Naval Sailor Service 1771-1804
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:34	Jon Miller	British hired tender 'Margaret' (1785) (4) 1785-1798 British 4 Gun Hired Tender
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:29	Jon Miller	British hired tender 'Margaret' (1785) (4) 1785-1798 British 4 Gun Hired Tender

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