Morgan Rattler (1793 ship)
Morgan Rattler was probably a French vessel launched under another name and taken in prize early in 1793 after the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. She became a Liverpool privateer, but was quickly captured. A few years later she became a French privateer. She captured several British merchantmen before a British naval brig captured her and her prizes. Career. "Morgan Rattler" first appeared in "Lloyd's Register" ("LR") in 1793. Captain William Gibson acquired a letter of marque on 25 May 1793. "Morgan Rattler", Gibson, master, was reported in August to have been captured and  taken into Lorient. "Morgan Rattler" may have served the French Navy in 1794. Between April and July the corvette "Morgan" was stationed at Bay of Bourgneuf under the command of "enseigne de vaisseau non entrenu" Collet. She then apparently became a privateer. On 28 June 1796 HMS "Suffisante" captured "Morgan". "Morgan", under the command of John Coffin Whitney, was the former "Morgan Rattler. On 27 August "Suffisante" intercepted and recaptured two British merchant ships near the Île de Batz. They reported that they had been sailing from Oporto when a privateer of 16 guns and 10 swivel guns had captured  them. When last seen the privateer had been north of Scilly in chase of some other merchant vessels. "Suffisante" immediately sent the recaptured vessels to Plymouth and sailed "Suffisante" to the French coast between Ushant and the Île de Batz in the hopes of intercepting the privateer on her return, or any prizes that she might have taken on their way to Morlaix or Brest. The next morning Commander Nicholas Tomlinson, of "Suffisante" sighted the privateer and four prizes. He was able to capture the privateer by 1pm; "Suffisante" fired some small-arms fire at and she did not  fire back, but instead struck. Tomlinson then put a prize crew on board the privateer, after taking off her captain and officers, and captor and ex-privateer set off after the prizes. "Suffisante" recaptured not only the four prizes she had seen, but two others as well. The six merchant vessels were: At the time these captures were considered highly important. The Committee for Encouraging the Capture of French Privateers etc. and the Court of Directors of the Royal Exchange Assurance, each voted Tomlinson a piece of plate valued at 50 guineas. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References Morgan