HMS Swallow (1795)
HMS "Swallow" was an 18-gun "Albatross"-class brig-sloop of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1795 and sold in 1802. During her naval career she captured a number of French privateers while on the Jamaica station. After her sale she became an armed whaler sailing under a letter of marque. As a privateer she captured two French whaling vessels but then is no longer listed after 1810. Naval career. The Royal Navy commissioned "Swallow" in October 1795 under the command of Commander George Fowke. He sailed her for the Jamaica station on 10 December. On 20  March 1796 "Swallow" was part of the squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral Hugh Cloberry Christian in that escorted a convoy to the West Indies. On 27 January 1797 "Swallow" captured the French privateer schooner "Molinette". "Swallow" had been sailing from Cape Nichola Mole, when she encountered "Molinette". "Molinette" was armed only with two swivel guns and had a crew of 18 men, four of whom where aboard an American schooner she had captured on 26 January. "Molinette" had left Gonaives on 21 January with the object of capturing American vessels travelling between British ports. On 11 March "Swallow  captured the French privateer schooner Port au Paix" about four leagues outside Cape Nichola Mole. "Port au Paix" was armed with two swivel guns and carried a crew of 17 men. She had left Port au Paix four days earlier and not captured anything. Between April and June "Swallow" captured the French privateer schooner "Général Toussaint". "Général Toussaint" mounted eight guns and had a crew of five men. Between October 1797 and March 1798 "Swallow" captured the French privateer "Petit Resource". She was armed with two 3-pounder guns and two swivel guns. In August 1798 Commander William Chilcott replaced  Fowkes, who had received promotion to post-captain on 9 July. "Swallow" captured the French privateer "Buonaparte" on 20 September 1798. "Bonaparte" was armed with six guns and had a crew of 50 men. On 13 January 1799, , under the command of Captain George Fowke, and "Swallow" captured the Spanish brig "Carmini". Between 12 February 1799 and April, "Swallow" captured one merchant vessel. In June 1799, Commander John Hayes replaced Sanderson. Between 22 July and 27 October 1799 "Swallow" captured three merchant vessels: During that same period when she was in company with and , she shared in the capture of  five merchant vessels, one a letter of marque: Between 28 February 1800 and 20 May, "Swallow" detained two Spanish schooners: In the period from 20 May to 8 August, "Swallow" detained the Spanish felucca "Baldenaro", which was carrying oil and wine. Between 3 August 1800 and 3 January 1801, "Swallow" detained three vessels: In May 1801, Commander John Davie replaced Hayes. Disposal: The Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy first offered "Swallow, 381 Tons, Copper-Bottomed and Copper-fastened, lying at Portsmouth" for sale on 7 August 1802. She sold there that month. Privateer and whaler. "Metcalf  purchased Swallow". Her master was David Smyth Simmons (or David Symonds Smith, or C.F. Smith). David Smyth Simmons received a letter of marque on 1 June 1803. She then sailed on 26 June. Around 15 May 1804 "Swallow" sent the French whaler "Hero" ("Héros") into Falmouth. During the Peace of Amiens, the French resumed whaling and on 10 February 1803 Captain Stephen Rawson sailed "Hero" from Le Havre for Walvis Bay, where she stayed for a month from 24 May to 23 June. "Hero" sailed in company with "Baleine", of Le Havre, Captain Reuben Baxter. Between 10 July and 15  August they cruised the coast, but after having gathered only 200 barrels of oil, they sailed first to St Helena and then to St Catherine, Brazil. "Swallow" captured both "Hero" and "Baleine". "Swallow" was reported to have arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 17 August 1804. As noted earlier, "Swallow" took "Hero" back to Britain. "Swallow" apparently abandoned "Baleine", though in what state, and what happened to her subsequently, is not clear. There are accounts that "Swallow" engaged in whaling in 1807 and 1809-10. Although there is no record of her in "Lloyd's Register" after 1805, she does  appear in the "Register of Shipping" in 1809 with F. Smyth, master, Metcalf, owner, and trade London-South Seas fisheries. She is last listed in 1810 with the same information. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References