French corvette Naïade (1780)
Naïade was a 20-gun "Coquette"-class corvette. She took part in the Indian theatre of the Anglo-French War with the squadron under Suffren. The British Royal Navy captured her in 1783 but never commissioned her; it sold her in 1784. French service. On 11 February 1782, "Naïade" departed Brest. She called Isle de France (Mauritius) and arrived at Cuddalore on 10 March 1782 to support the squadron under Suffren. In November 1782, she was at Ceylon under Costebelle. On 11 April, "Captaine de Brûlot" Villaret de Joyeuse was given command of "Naïade". Suffren sent her  to Madras to warn the French blockading squadron, composed of the 74-gun "Fendant", the 64-gun "Saint-Michel" and the frigates "Cléopâtre" and "Coventry", of the imminent arrival of a superior British force. Three days after her departure, on 11 April 1783, "Naïade" spotted the 64-gun HMS "Sceptre", under Captain Graves; after trying without success to elude his much stronger opponent, Villaret was forced into battle, and struck his colours after a five-hour fight. When Villaret surrendered his sword, Graves allegedly told him "Sir, you have given us a fairly beautiful frigate, but you made us pay  dearly for her!"; some authors add that Graves returned Villaret his sword. British service. The British armed "Naïade" with twenty-two 12-pounder guns, and two 18-pounder and six 12-pounder carronade, but never commissioned her. From 26 April 1783, she was under Lieutenant Richard Strachan. Fate. "Naïade" was sold on 17 August 1784. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations Bibliography