Trompeuse (ship)

During the French Revolutionary War Trompeuse, meaning “misleading” or “deceptive”, was a popular name for French naval vessels, privateers, and even merchant vessels. Warships of the Royal Navy captured or destroyed at least four vessels under that name.

• On 12 January 1794, the post ship HMS Sphynx captured the 18-gun French Navy brig Trompeuse, which the Royal Navy took into service under her own name.^[1]
• In May 1797 HMS Spitfire, under the command of Captain Michael Seymour, captured the French schooner Trompeuse of six guns and 40 men.^[2] Trompeuse, of Morlaix, had been out five days and had taken two Prussian vessels, one sailing to Liverpool and the other to Oporto.^[3]
• On 17 September 1797, on the Jamaica station, HMS Pelican, with HMS Drake in sight, engaged and destroyed the French privateer Trompeuse, of 12 guns and 78 men.^[4]
• On 9 June 1801 the schooner HMS Gozo (misspelled as Gogo), captured the chasse maree Trompeuse, which was sailing to Ancona.^[5]

See also

HMS Trompeuse

Citations

1. Norie (1842), p.406.
2. Norie (1842), p.489.
3. The London Gazette: no. 14009. p. 435. 13 May 1797.
4. The London Gazette: no. 14067. p. 1114. 21 November 1797.
5. The London Gazette: no. 15428. p. 1386. 17 November 1801.

References

• Norie, J. W. (1842) The naval gazetteer, biographer and chronologist; containing a history of the late wars from ... 1793 to ... 1801; and from ... 1803 to 1815, and continued, as to the biographical part to the present time. (London, C. Wilson).