French ship Brutus (1780)
Brutus was a merchant ship built in 1780 at Bordeaux. She was commissioned as a privateer in 1793 at Bordeaux. However, the French Navy purchased her in September 1793 at Brest and classed her as a corvette. The French Navy later converted her to a brig. captured her on 10 October 1795. Career. The French Navy re-rigged "Brutus" as a brig at Brest either in 1793 or in May 1795. She carried out two diplomatic missions to the United States during 1794. In February 1794, she arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, with the news of the  imminent arrival of a squadron under Van Stabel carrying Joseph Faucher to replace Citoyen Genêt as the French ambassador to the United States to replace Edmond-Charles Genêt. She also brought despatches to Van Stabel. "Brutus" was renamed "Célère" in May 1795 in France. but was still operating under the name "Brutus" when "Mermaid" captured her. She was refitted with a coppered hull and a brig rigging before her naval commission. Capture. On 10 October 1795 "Mermaid" was cruising to windward of Grenada when she discovered a ship and a brig anchored off La Baye. As the two vessels sighted  Mermaid they got under weigh, but the brig soon bore up and ran into Requin Bay, where "Mermaid" followed her. The brig ran ashore and all aboard fled. These numbered 50 crew and 70 troops; she had landed another 50 troops when she had been anchored. On taking possession of the brig, the British discovered that she was a French naval vessel named "Brutus". Four days later "Mermaid" captured the ship, which was the 18-gun French corvette "Republicaine". "Lloyd's List", in reporting the captures, described "Brutus" as having 18 guns, and "Republican" as having 10. After both vessels  had been condemned at Grenada on 9 November 1795, shared in the prize money by agreement with "Mermaid". Notes, citations and references. Notes Citations References