British cutter 'Speedwell' (1780)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
William KeefeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1814
Update
Maximilian KeechBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1672
Update
George KeenorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1840
Update
John KeeneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1668-1673
Update
John KeenanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1809
Update
John KeenanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1812
Update
John James KeelingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1812-1860
Update
Charles KeeleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1812-1863
Update
John AireBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
James CollinsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1811
See more...

Speedwell	6815
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	5.1780	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	7.1780	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Cutter	BWAS-1714
Wrecked	18.2.1807	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck75' 3"Imperial Feet22.8752
Length of Keel54' 6"Imperial Feet16.4973
Breadth25' 10"Imperial Feet7.62
Depth in Hold10' 2"Imperial Feet3.0988
Burthen193 ⁴³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

7.1780Broadside Weight = 30.5 Imperial Pound ( 13.832 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck14 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck10 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
7.178070 BWAS-1714
22.3.178280 BWAS-1714
14.10.178370 BWAS-1714

11 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
12.8.1780 - 21.3.1782LieutenantBWAS-171421.3.1782 - 23.12.1782Commander ADM 6/22/428BWAS-171423.12.1782 - 25.9.1783Commander ADM 6/22/559BWAS-171411.1783 - 7.1787CommanderBWAS-171426.8.1789 - 5.1790CommanderBWAS-17145.1790 - 21.9.1790LieutenantBWAS-171412.1791 - 9.1793LieutenantBWAS-17149.1793 - 1796LieutenantBWAS-17144.1797 - 9.1798LieutenantBWAS-17149.1798 - 7.1802LieutenantBWAS-17141807 - 18.2.1807Lieutenant†BWAS-1714

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
4.3.1800 - 21.6.1802Acting MasterADM 29-1

Service History

DateEventSource
13.5.1780Registered as a cutterBWAS-1714
20.5.1780Began coppering and fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
7.1780Commissioned for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
23.9.1780Completed coppering and fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
22.3.1782Refitted as a 14 gun Unrated Unknown
25.9.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
10.1783fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £1156.15.0dBWAS-1714
14.10.1783Refitted as a 14 gun Unrated Cutter
12.1783Recommissioned for service off ArranBWAS-1714
7.1787Paid offBWAS-1714
5.1789RecommissionedBWAS-1714
22.8.1796Took the Cutter off St Catherine's PointBG
10.1796Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
4.1797RecommissionedBWAS-1714
4.1797Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1798Refitted as a 14 gun Unrated Gun-brig
7.1802Paid offBWAS-1714
7.1803Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
8.1803Recommissioned for the ChannelBWAS-1714
8.1803Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
18.2.1807Wrecked in a storm near Dieppe with no survivorsBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 29-1 Document

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1714Rif 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 16:06	Jon Miller	British Merchant east indiaman 'Wellesley' (1801) (Unknown) 1801-1804 British Unknown Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Monday 15th of June 2026 16:00	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Nassau' (1785) (64) 1785-1799 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Monday 15th of June 2026 15:58	Jon Miller	British Second Rate ship of the line 'Impregnable' (1786) (98) 1786-1799 British 98 Gun 2nd Rate Ship of the Line
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:51	Jon Miller	British schooner 'Redbridge' (1798) (14) 1798-1803 British 14 Gun Unrated Schooner
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:46	Jon Miller	British Merchant east indiaman 'Brunswick' (1792) (Unknown) 1792-1805 British Unknown Gun Merchant East Indiaman

GDPR Statement