British sloop 'Falcon' (1771)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
Veteran (64) 1787-1816
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
Thomas ClarkBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Added
Charles InglisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792
Update
Charles InglisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1814
Update
Swiftsure (74) 1787-1801
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
Trompeuse (16) 1794-1796
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
Update
John DouglasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1778-1807
Update
Galatea (32) 1794-1809
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Update
Sir Richard Goodwin KeatsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1825
Update
Victorious (74) 1785-1803
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
See more...

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
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1775)
Pomone (44) 1794-1802
British 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Canada (74) 1765-1834
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1765)
Haarlem (68) 1785-1797
Dutch 68 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1785)
Hercules (66) 1781-1797
Dutch 66 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1781)
Le Railleur (20) 1797-1797
French 20 Gun
Privateer Corvette
(1797)
See more...

Falcon
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	27.10.1768	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	4.1769	BWAS-1714
Launched	15.6.1771	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	21.1.1771	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Swallow Class (1768)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Thomas BucknallBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1728-1772	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Foundered	20.9.1779	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck95' 0"Imperial Feet28.956
Length of Keel78' 0"Imperial Feet23.7744
Breadth27' 1 ½"Imperial Feet8.2423
Depth in Hold13' 0"Imperial Feet3.9624
Burthen308 ⁵⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

15.6.1771Broadside Weight = 45 Imperial Pound ( 20.4078 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck14 British 6-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1768125Design Complement

5 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
21.1.1771 - 29.7.1774Commander ADM 6/20/341BWAS-171413.10.1774 - 16.2.1777Commander ADM 6/21/53BWAS-171414.2.1777 - 16.2.1777Commander ADM 6/21/324
Issued by , Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Confirmed 14.10.1777BWAS-171416.2.1777 - 17.10.1778Commander ADM 6/21/383
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 30.3.1778BWAS-171424.11.1778 - 20.9.1779Commander† ADM 6/21/569
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 12.6.1779BWAS-1714

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1773 - 29.7.1774Acting LieutenantNRS006

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
15.3.1777 - 17.10.1778Purser Transfered ADM 6/22/310
Confirmed 9.7.1781ADM 6/22

2 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
5.1771 - 1773MidshipmanNRS00618.11.1774 - 14.2.1777Midshipmanref:616

Service History

DateEventSource
4.1769Began building at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
15.6.1771Completed building at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £7209.8.6dBWAS-1714
1.8.1771Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
1774Ordered home and paid off?BWAS-1714
29.7.1774

Paid off

ADM 33
10.1774RecommissionedBWAS-1714
10.1774Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
11.1774Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £2031.14.3dBWAS-1714
26.2.1775Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
10.12.1777Took the Sloop
24.6.1778Took the Privateer by boat attack at sandford, CT
24.6.1778Took the Brig by boat attack at sandford, CT
5.8.1778Sunk to avoid capture at Rhode IslandBWAS-1714
11.1778Raised and recommissionedBWAS-1714
20.9.1779Lost with all handsBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 33 Archive

ADM 6/22 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

NRS006John Knox Laughton, Book

ref:616Nicholas Tracy, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Tim Oakley on Tuesday 31st of July 2012 22:42

1775 Aug 8 or 9 Falcon 14 sloop Commander John Linzee attacks two American merchant schooners off the coast of New England taking one and pursuing the other into Gloucester Harbour where they were attacked by local militia loosing the captured schooner before retiring

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

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

GDPR Statement