French Frigate Mignonne (1767)

The French frigate ''Mignonne'' was a one-off design by Jean-Baptiste Doumet-Revest; she was launched in 1767 at Toulon. Some notable French captains commanded her before the British captured her at Calvi in 1794 and took her into the Royal Navy as HMS ''Mignonne''. She was burnt in 1797 as useless.

French service

On 2 April 1771, Commander Chabert was given command of ''Mignonne'', and conducted a cruise to test a chronometer made by Ferdinand Berthoud. Upon his return, in late November, Chabert was promoted to captain.

In 1772 ''Mignonne'' came under the command of Suffren, who had just been promoted to the rank of captain. He commanded her and later ''Alcemene'' in the squadron that the French government had established for the purpose of training its officers.

In 1793 the French Navy had ''Mignonne'' razeed, converting her to a corvette.

On 22 October 1793 ''Mignonne'' was part of a five-vessel squadron under the command of Jean-Baptiste Perrée. In addition to ''Mignonne'', the squadron included the frigates , ''Minerve'', and ''Fortunée'', and the brig ''Hasard''. They encountered the 64-gun third rate , under the command of Captain Horatio Nelson. ''Agamemnon'' and ''Fortunée'' engaged in an inconclusive action before the French squadron chose not to pursue the matter and sailed off.

Capture

On 18 June 1794, ''Agamemnon'' anchored south of Calvi. Once the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean fleet under Vice-Admiral Hood arrived, the British commenced a 51-day siege of the town, which surrendered on 10 August. Shortly thereafter the inhabitants of Corsica declared themselves to be subjects of His Majesty King George III.

The British captured five vessels at Calvi, two frigates – ''Melopmène'' and ''Mignonne'' – and three small armed vessels, the brigs ''Auguste'' and ''Providence'', each of four guns, and the gun-boat ''Ca Ira'', of three guns. ''Melpomène'' was a new vessel and the British were glad to take her into service, which they did under her existing name; she served in the Royal Navy until 1815. The 27-year-old ''Mignonne'' they too took into service under her existing name but without the same expressions of enthusiasm.

British service

''Mignonne'' was commissioned under Commander Henry Hotham. Commander Ralph Miller recommissioned her in November 1795. On 13 June 1796 D’Arcy Preston was promoted to post captain in ''Mignonne''. His replacement in September was Captain Charles Stuart. On 19 October John Giffard was similarly promoted into ''Mignonne''. His successor, in December, was Captain Philip Wodehouse.

Fate

Captain Nelson wrote to Admiral Jervis on 29 December 1796 that he expected to be able to sell and ''Mignonne''.Nelson (1846), Vol. 7, p.CXXVI. Clearly he was unable to as on 31 July 1797 the British burnt ''Mignonne'' as unserviceable when they withdrew from Porto Ferrajo.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mignonne (1767)
1767 ships
Ships built in France
Ships of the Royal Navy
Captured ships
Frigates of the French Navy