British sloop 'Merlin' (1803)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
John StylesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
Thomas ElkingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Aurora (28) 1777-1814
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
Update
John Milligan SeppingsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
John SkinnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1794
Added
Princess Royal (6) 1794-1794
British 6 Gun
Merchant Packet
Update
Edward BrowneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Polyphemus (64) 1782-1827
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
William ShippardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Robert PassmoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1798
See more...

Recent Comments

Robert BaylisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1795
La Cantabré (14) 1798-1798
French 14 Gun
Privateer Brig
(1798)
Cambrian (40) 1797-1828
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
Kingfisher (18) 1782-1798
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1782)
La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
French 18 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1798)
Phaeton (38) 1782-1828
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1782)
Seahorse (38) 1794-1819
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1807
Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
Sir Graham Eden HamondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1836
See more...

Merlin			5379
Nominal Guns	16
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	7.1803
First Commissioned	8.1803
Shipyard	South Shields - Durham - River Tyne
Category	Unrated
Ship Type	Sloop
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged
Sold	21.1.1836

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck104' 0"Imperial Feet31.6992
Length of Keel79' 10"Imperial Feet24.0792
Breadth30' 6"Imperial Feet9.2964
Depth in Hold12' 10"Imperial Feet3.6576
Burthen395Tons BM

Armament

8.1803Broadside Weight = 278 Imperial Pound ( 126.073 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck14 British 32-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder
Spardeck4 British 24-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
8.1803100 BWAS-1793

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
8.1803 - 1.1805CommanderBWAS-17931.1805 - 3.1806CommanderBWAS-17933.1806 - 1807CommanderBWAS-17931807 - 6.1807CommanderBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
20.7.1803Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
20.9.1803Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
16.10.1803Burnt the wreck of the near La HogueBWAS-1793
27.10.1803Took the Privateer
3.1806In the West IndiesBWAS-1793
4.1807Laid up at PortsmouthBWAS-1793
6.1807Paid offBWAS-1793
10.1810fitting as a Receiving Ship at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
21.1.1836Sold at Portsmouth for £510BWAS-1793

Notes on Ship

OriginBWAS-1793
Mercantile Hercules built at South Shields in 1801

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:19	Jon Miller	Robert BaylisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1795
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:17	Jon Miller	French Privateer brig 'La Cantabré' (1798) (14) 1798-1798 French 14 Gun Privateer Brig
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:16	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Cambrian' (1797) (40) 1797-1828 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Kingfisher' (1782) (18) 1782-1798 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Résolue' (1798) (18) 1798-1798 French 18 Gun Privateer Unknown

GDPR Statement