British cutter 'Expedition' (1778)

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Expedition
Nominal Guns	10	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	2.1778	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	24.3.1778	BWAS-1714
Launched	3.8.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Ladd's Shipbuilders - Dover	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Sprightly Class (1776)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1784	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Henry LaddBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Cutter	BWAS-1714
Last known	1804	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck67' 0"Imperial Feet20.4216
Length of Keel48' 8"Imperial Feet14.6558
Breadth24' 2 ¾"Imperial Feet7.3343
Depth in Hold10' 0"Imperial Feet3.048
Burthen152 ⁴⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

3.8.1778Broadside Weight = 18 Imperial Pound ( 8.1633 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck10 British 3-Pounder
Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
14.12.177650Design Complement

9 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
15.10.1778 - 30.8.1779LieutenantBWAS-17147.1.1782 - 28.4.1783LieutenantBWAS-17143.1786 - 30.11.1787LieutenantBWAS-17141.12.1788 - 1788Captain ADM 6/23/507
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 5.2.1789ADM 6/2322.5.1791 - 15.5.1792LieutenantBWAS-17145.1792 - 6.6.1793Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/245BWAS-17147.1793 - 4.1796LieutenantBWAS-17144.1796 - 1799Lieutenant† Discharged DeadBWAS-17141802 - 1804LieutenantBWAS-1714

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
1797 - 1799MidshipmanNBD1849

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
1.1799 - 11.1799UnknownNBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
24.3.1778Began building at Ladd's Shipbuilders - Dover BWAS-1714
3.8.1778Completed building at Ladd's Shipbuilders - Dover at a cost of £1180.9.7dBWAS-1714
3.8.1778Began coppering and fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
9.1778Commissioned for the DownsBWAS-1714
15.12.1778Completed coppering and fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1348.18.2dBWAS-1714
1.12.1780Sinking of Le Comte d'Avaux
1789Began refitting at UnknownBWAS-1714
1790Completed refittingBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/23 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Dennis Quinton on Saturday 31st of October 2020 15:32

Thanks. Cy I have a copy of his will which was dated 18 February 1782. He actually was killed aboard HMS Ardent on 11 April 1794 when it blew up off Villefranche with no survivors. Sad end.

Posted by Cy on Saturday 31st of October 2020 09:40

The list above covers only lieutenant's commanding the cutter. In the Royal Navy the master, or sailing master, was a senior warrant officer in charge of navigation, not, except in rare cases, the commmanding officer.
There is a will in the nartional archives which also mentions Henry Quinton as master of the Expedition, however I currently have no details of when.

Posted by Dennis Quinton on Friday 30th of October 2020 17:25

Henry Quinton according to his marriage was Master of the Cutter Expedition in 1781. Not shown in info above which jumps from 1779 tom1782. Any info would be appreciated.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Thursday 19th of July 2012 19:04

3 May 1794 cutter Expedition 10 commander Bayntun Prideaux cruises from Fowey

Posted by Tim Oakley on Thursday 19th of July 2012 05:42

25 Dec 1794 cutter Expedition 10 commander Bayntun Prideaux sent to rescue sloop Fury 16 in Mounts Bay, taking her into Falmouth

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