HMS Greyhound (1780)
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HMS ''Greyhound'' was a cutter that the
British Admiralty The Admiralty was a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, department of the Government of the United Kingdom that was responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. Historically, its titular head was the Lord High Admiral of the ...
purchased in 1780 and renamed ''Viper'' in 1781. ''Viper'' captured several French privateers in the waters around Great Britain, and took part in a notable engagement. She was sold in October 1809.


Anglo-French War

''Greyhound'' was commissioned in June 1780 under Lieutenant Richard Bridge for the
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and Irish Sea. As ''Viper'', she was in company with on 3 January 1781 when they captured the Dutch vessel ''Catherine''. ''Viper'' was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Dickinson. Then in August, and ''Viper'' were in company when they recaptured the sloop ''Peggy'' and the cutter ''Hope''. On 16 April 1782, ''Viper'' captured the French privateer ''Brilliant''. Later that month, on 28 April, ''Viper'' and the brig brought into Waterford a French privateer lugger and her prize. The prize was a sloop that had been sailing from London to Cork with merchandise when the privateer took her. and ''Viper'' were in company on 22 June when they sighted a cutter off
Land's End Land's End ( or ''Pedn an Wlas'') is a headland and tourist and holiday complex in western Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, on the Penwith peninsula about west-south-west of Penzance at the western end of the A30 road. To the east of it is ...
. They gave chase and by 1 p.m. they caught their quarry. She proved to be the Dutch privateer ''Sea Lion'' (or ''Zeuwsche Water Leuw''), of
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, but out of
Cherbourg Cherbourg is a former Communes of France, commune and Subprefectures in France, subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French departments of France, department of Manche. It was merged into the com ...
. ''Sea Lion'' had a crew of 50 men, and was pierced for 12 guns, but was only carrying eight 3-pounders. During this cruise she had taken a sloop between Lyme and Weymouth. ''Viper'' was paid off in June 1783, but immediately recommissioned again under Lieutenant Arthur Webber for the Irish Sea. Lieutenant John Crymes took command in 1784 for Land's End and the Irish Sea. In 1785-86 ''Viper'' was off
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. She was paid off in August 1786. In January of the next year she was again recommissioned for the Irish Sea, again under Crymes's command, and in July was at
Lundy Lundy is an English island in the Bristol Channel. It forms part of the district of Torridge in the county of Devon. About long and wide, Lundy has had a long and turbulent history, frequently changing hands between the British crown and ...
. From 1788 to 1789, she was under the command of Lieutenant S. Rains. She was recommissioned in November 1791 under Lieutenant Robert Graeme for the Irish Sea, and he remained in command until late 1793. In June ''Viper'' and Graeme were at Plymouth.


French Revolutionary Wars

In October 1793 Lieutenant John Pengelley (or Pengelly) assumed command. France invaded the Netherlands in January 1795. On 19 January 1795, one day after
stadtholder In the Low Countries, a stadtholder ( ) was a steward, first appointed as a medieval official and ultimately functioning as a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and ...
William V of Orange William V (Willem Batavus; 8 March 1748 – 9 April 1806) was Prince of Orange and the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic. He went into exile to London in 1795. He was furthermore ruler of the Principality of Orange-Nassau until his death in ...
fled to England, the ''Bataafse Republiek'' (
Batavian Republic The Batavian Republic (; ) was the Succession of states, successor state to the Dutch Republic, Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on 19 January 1795 after the Batavian Revolution and ended on 5 June 1806, with the acce ...
) was proclaimed, rendering the Netherlands a
unitary state A unitary state is a (Sovereign state, sovereign) State (polity), state governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. The central government may create or abolish administrative divisions (sub-national or ...
. From 1795 to 1806, the Batavian Republic designated the Netherlands as a
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modelled after the
French Republic France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. On 20 January 1795, the Royal Navy seized several Dutch war and merchant vessels then at Plymouth. The British position was that the ships were not prizes, but were being held in trust for the stadtholder. until formally seized a year or so later. The naval vessels were the ''Zeeland'' (64 guns), the ''Brakel'' (54 guns), the ''Tholen'' (36 guns), the brig ''Pye'', the sloop ''Mierman'', and the cutter ''Pye''. In addition, there were seven homeward and two outward bound Dutch
Indiamen East Indiamen were merchant ships that operated under charter or licence for European Trading company, trading companies which traded with the East Indies between the 17th and 19th centuries. The term was commonly used to refer to vessels belon ...
, and from 50 to 60 merchant vessels, all lying in Plymouth Sound. The ships were ordered round to Hamoaze where, after landing their powder, they were allowed to keep their colours flying. In time, the vessels became prizes. All the British vessels at Plymouth on 20 January 1795, including ''Viper'', shared in the prize money arising from the seizure. In October 1796 captured the French privateer ''Vautour''. The letter transmitting Captain Beauclerk's letter remarked that ''Viper'' and had twice chased ''Vautour'' off the coast.


''Nuestra Señora de la Piedad''

On 13 March 1797, Pengelley and ''Viper'' were about seven leagues north-west from
Alboran Alboran or Alborán may refer to * Alboran Sea, the westernmost portion of the Mediterranean Sea ** Alboran Island, an islet of Spain ** the Battle of Alborán, which took place in 1540 off the island * Alboran Trio, an Italian jazz piano trio ...
, as they were returning to Gibraltar from Algiers when she sighted a Spanish privateer. As they approached, Pengelley fired a gun, which the Spaniard answered, first with a shot and then a broadside after he hove to. At half-past one ''Viper'' closed alongside the brig. The ensuing action lasted until 3:10 p.m., when the Spaniard hauled down his colours. During the action, the Spanish several times attempted to start fires on ''Viper'' by throwing over flasks filled with powder and sulphur. The Spanish brig was ''Nuestra Señora de la Piedad''. She was armed with six 4-pounder and four 6-pounder guns, and eight swivels, and had a crew of 42 men. The two vessels were thus relatively evenly matched. ''Nuestra Señora de la Piedad'' had one man killed and seven dangerously wounded, one of whom died; ''Viper'' suffered no casualties. In 1799, ''Viper'' visited Sierra Leone, leaving on 1 April in company with , and returning on 3 August. Pengelly reported that he had run down the coast and found the settlements very healthy.


''Viper'' and ''Furet''

On 26 December 1799, at 10:15 a.m. ''Viper'' was seven or eight leagues south of the Dodman, serving as escort to a convoy of three merchant vessels, a sloop, a brig, and a three-masted ship,Fabre (1886), pp.9-12. when she sighted a suspicious vessel sailing towards her. Realising that the approaching vessel was an enemy, Pengelley sailed towards him. The French captain thought that ''Viper'' was maneuvering with such timidity that he could prevail. The engagement commenced at 10:45 a.m. The close action continued for three-quarters of an hour, when casualties on board the privateer caused the majority of the crew of the privateer to panic, forcing the captain of the enemy vessel to take flight. A running fight of an hour and a half ensued as ''Viper'' pursued her opponent. Eventually, ''Viper'' got close enough to be able to pour two broadsides into her enemy, who then
struck Struck is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Adolf Struck Adolf Hermann Struck (1877–1911) was a German sightseer and writer. He is known for his Travel literature, travelogue ''Makedonische Fahrten'' and for surveying the ...
his colours. The enemy turned out to be the French privateer ''Furet'', of fourteen 4-pounder guns and 57 men under the command of Citizen Louis Bouvet. ''Furet'' was two days out of
Saint Malo Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany. The walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures. In 1944, the All ...
and had earlier that day put a seven-man prize crew aboard a vessel that she had taken. In the battle with ''Viper'', ''Furet'' had four men killed and her first and second captains and six men wounded, four dangerously; ''Viper'' had one man wounded, with Pengelley also being slightly injured. Because both captor and captive were much damaged in their sails and rigging, Pengelley put into Falmouth, from where he intended to sail to Plymouth as soon as he could. The French wounded were transferred to the hospital of Mill Prison. Some weeks later the British paroled Bouvet and sent him in the
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''John'' to Morlaix. This was a sufficiently notable
single-ship action A single-ship action is a naval engagement fought between two warships of opposing sides, excluding submarine engagements; it is called so because there is a single ship on each side. The following is a list of notable single-ship actions. Sing ...
that in 1847, the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Viper 26 Decr. 1799" to the one surviving claimant from the action.


Morbihan

In March 1800 Lieutenant Matthew Forester replaced Pengelley. ''Viper'' joined Sir
Edward Pellew Admiral Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, GCB (19 April 1757 – 23 January 1833) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He fought during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. His younge ...
s squadron at
Morbihan The Morbihan ( , ; ) is a departments of France, department in the administrative region of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Gulf of Morbihan, Morbihan (''small sea'' in Breton ...
on 5 June,. Then on 6 June, the boats of the squadron attacked Morbihan itself. The British were able to cut out five brigs, two sloops, and two gun vessels, and to capture 100 prisoners. The British burned the corvette brig ''Insolente'', of 18 guns, as well as several small craft. They also destroyed the guns there and blew up the magazine. On 27 June ''Viper'' was in company with when they recaptured . Because ''Viper'' was part of Admiral Sir
John Borlase Warren Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, 1st Baronet (2 September 1753 – 27 February 1822) was a Royal Navy officer, diplomat and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1774 and 1807. Early life Born in Stapleford, Nottinghamshir ...
's squadron, her crew was entitled to share in the proceeds from the squadron's recapture of ''Lancaster'' on 28 June. Similarly, ''Viper'' shared in the proceeds of ''Vigilant'', ''Menais'', ''Industry'' (salvage for recapture), wreck of a vessel sold, ''Insolent'', and ''Ann''. Lastly, she shared in the squadron's capture of the French privateer ''Guêppe'' on 30 August.


''Cerbère''

At some point in mid-1800, Lieutenant Jeremiah Coghlan (acting) assumed command. In July 1800, Coghlan, who had been watching
Port-Louis, Morbihan Port-Louis (; ) is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in northwestern France. History At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India established warehouses in Port-Louis. They later built additional ...
, proposed to Pellew that he, Coghlan, take some boats into the harbour to cut out one of the French vessels there. Pellew acceded to the proposal and gave Coghlan a cutter from ''Impetueux'', Midshipman Silas H. Paddon, and 12 men. Coghlan added in six men and a boat from ''Viper'', and a boat from . On 29 July the boats went into the port after dark, targeting a brig. During the run-up to the attack the boats from ''Viper'' and ''Amethyst'' fell behind, but Coghlan in the cutter persisted. Coghlan's initial attempt at boarding failed and he himself received a pike wound in the thigh. The French repelled a second attempt too. Finally, the British succeeded in boarding, killing and wounding a large number of the French brig's crew, and taking control. The two laggard boats came up and the British then brought the brig out of the harbour and back to the fleet. The brig was ''Cerbère'', of three 24-pounder and four 6-pounder guns, with a crew of 87 men, 16 of them soldiers, all under the command of ''lieutenant de vaisseau'' Menagé. The attack cost the British one man killed (a seaman from ''Viper''), and eight men wounded, including Coghlan and Paddon. The French lost five men killed and 21 wounded, including all their officers; one of the wounded men died shortly thereafter. The Royal Navy took ''Cerbère'' into service under her existing name. Pellew's fleet waived their right to any prize money as a gesture of admiration for the feat. Pellew also recommended Coghlan's promotion to lieutenant, which followed, though Coghlan had not served the requisite time in grade. Earl St. Vincent personally gave Coghlan a sword worth 100
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, in order to "prevent the city, or any body of merchants, from making him a present of the same sort". In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp, "29 July Boat Service 1800" to the four then surviving claimants from the action. On 1 November ''Viper'' recaptured ''Diamond''. On 1 February 1801, ''Viper'' captured ''Mont Blanc''. ''Mont Blanc'' was advertised for sale in April. She was a schooner of 108 and had been captured as she was sailing from Cayenne to
Lorient Lorient (; ) is a town (''Communes of France, commune'') and Port, seaport in the Morbihan Departments of France, department of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in western France. History Prehistory and classical antiquity Beginn ...
. Her cargo was for sale too, including 19 elephants' teeth, as were six brass guns and four iron guns."Advertisements & Notices." ''Trewman's Exeter Flying Post'' [Exeter, England] 23 April 1801: n.p.
/ref> Next, ''Viper'' and captured ''Petit Felix'' on the 15th of the month. ''Petit Felix'' was a new
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of 53 tons (bm). Her cargo, for exportation, consisted of brandy, red and white wine,
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, tar, twigs, and whisk brooms. Also on 15 February ''Viper'' captured ''Jupiter''. On 1 April, ''Viper'' was in company with when they encountered four French privateers off
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. Three of the privateers escaped. Nevertheless, ''Atalante'' pursued one and after a chase of 17 hours captured her. She turned out to be the brig ''Héros'', of
Saint Malo Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany. The walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures. In 1944, the All ...
. She was armed with 14 guns and had a crew of 73 men under the command of her master, Renne Crosse. ''Viper'' shared in the proceeds of the capture of ''Adelaide'' and a brig on 8 August as part of Pellew's squadron. ''Viper'' was then paid off in October 1801.


Napoleonic Wars

In September 1803 Lieutenant Robert Jump assumed command of ''Viper''. On 8 May 1806, ''Viper'' detained and sent into Plymouth the ship ''Hercules''. In 1806 Lieutenant Daniel Carpenter replaced Jump. ''Viper'', under Carpenter, detained ''Hetty'' on 6 August and ''Diana'' on 27 August.


Fate

The Commissioners of the
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put ''Viper'' up for sale on 13 October 1809 at Plymouth. She was sold that year.


Notes


Citations


References

*Fabre, Eugène (1886) ''Voyages et combats'', Volume 2. (Berger-Levrault et Cie). *Littell, Eliakim (1844) ''The living age''. (Littell, Son and Co.). * *O’Byrne, William R. (1849) ''A naval biographical dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty's navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive''. (London: J. Murray), vol. 1. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Greyhound (1780) 1780s ships Cutters of the Royal Navy