''Courageuse'' was a 40-gun of the
French Navy
The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...
, completed in 1794 and renamed ''Justice'' in April 1795. The British and Ottomans captured her in 1801 at the
siege of Alexandria and she became a prize to the Ottomans.
Career
''Justice'' was named ''Courageuse'' on 5 October 1794 in error; there was already a ''Courageuse'' in service. She was renamed ''Justice'' on 20 April 1795.
Between January and September 1796 ''Justice'' was in the Dardanelles, under the command of ''capitaine de vaisseau'' Dalbarde, and sailed from Constantinople to Toulon. From 14 May 1797 to 11 June she as at Toulon, cruising the Italian coast. From 27 June to 21 April 1798 ''Justice'' sailed from Toulon to Corfu, then to the Adriatic, and lastly she participated in the French
expedition to Egypt.
In late 1797 ''Justice'' captured the British privateers and ''Fortune'' and took them into Corfu.
Between 23 July 1798 and 25 July ''Justice'' was at
Aboukir. After the frigate ran aground in Aboukir, ''Justice'' escorted her to
Alexandria
Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
for repairs.
On 2 August ''Justice'' was under the command of Captain Jean Villeneuve and participated in the
battle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile (also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay; ) was fought between the Royal Navy and the French Navy at Abu Qir Bay, Aboukir Bay in Ottoman Egypt, Egypt between 1–3 August 1798. It was the climax of the Mediterranean ca ...
. She and sailed in the morning and so escaped. ''Justice'' arrived at
Valletta
Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...
on 28 August 1798.
Between 24 August 1800 and 1 September she sailed from Malta to Toulon, a little before the island fell to the British.
Between 24 January 1801 and 3 February ''Justice'' sailed from Toulon to Alexandria in company with to resupply the French army there. ''Justice'' succeeded in evading the British blockade.
Fate
She was in Alexandria when the British captured Alexandria on 2 September 1801. The British and their Ottoman allies agreed to a division of the spoils; the British received (50) and (40), and the ex-Venetian frigate ''Léoben'' (26), and (ex-Venetian ''Medusa'') (26), while Captain Pacha (''sic'') received ''Causse'' (ex-Venetian ''Vulcano'') (64), ''Justice'' (46), ''Mantoue'' (ex-Venetian ''Cerere'') (26), and the ex-Ottoman corvettes ''Halil Bey'', ''Momgo Balerie'', and ''Salâbetnümâ''.
Admiral Lord
Keith commander of the naval forces, gave the value of ''Justice'' for prize money purposes at
£17,095 2
s 2
d.
Citations
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Justice (1794)
Virginie-class frigates
Ships built in France
1794 ships