Mentor (1778 ship)
Mentor was launched in 1778 at Chester as a West Indiaman. She captured three vessels, including a valuable East Indiaman belonging to the French East India Company. She had an inconclusive single ship action with a French warship in 1779. She was wrecked in 1782. Career. "Mentor" first appeared in "Lloyd's Register" ("LR") in the volume for 1778. War between Britain and France had broken out in April 1778 and Captain John Dawson sailed "Mentor" south in a privateering cruise to attempt to intercept French vessels coming from the Indian Ocean that were not aware of  the outbreak of hostilities. On 28 October 1778 "Mentor" encountered the French East Indiaman , which was sailing from India to France. "Mentor" captured "Carnatic". When "Carnatic" came into Liverpool, she was said to be worth £135,000 and the richest prize ever taken and brought safe into port by a Liverpool privateer. Part of the value was due to a box of diamonds that had been found on her. Peter Baker, "Mentor"s owner, retained ownership of "Carnatic". Prize money was paid on 1 November 1779. On 26 October 1779 "Mentor", John Whiteside, master, was in when she sighted four vessels , and sailed towards them. There were two ships, one flying Dutch colours and the other English, a sloop, and a schooner. As "Mentor" came closer Whiteside saw that one of the ships was a frigate, and sailed away. The frigate raised French colours, fired some shots, and set off in chase. The chase continued, off-and-on until 29 October, when the caught up with "Mentor". At one p.m., an engagement commenced. Then at 2:10 p.m. the frigate broke off the action and sailed away. The frigate was armed with 36 guns, twenty-eight of them 12-pounders on one  deck. Late in the afternoon two privateers from Bristol, "Lyon" and "Tyger", came up and together with "Mentor" they set off after the French vessel, but without consulting with Whiteside. "Mentor", because of the damage to her masts, sails, and rigging, could not fully keep up. By mid-day the next day the three caught up with the frigate, and a brig. The frigate was disguised as a merchantman, as she had been when "Mentor" first saw her some days earlier. "Lyon" set off after the brig, and "Tyger" sailed towards the frigate, but when she got closer and realized  the deception, broke off and joined "Lyon". "Mentor" could not keep up and sailed for Ireland. She put into Cork to refit. A gale in the night between 1 and 2 August 1781 at Jamaica drove "Mentor" and a number of other vessels, including "Carnatic", Gibbons, master, on shore. Although the initial expectation was that she and most of the other vessels that also were driven on shore would be gotten off, the next report had "Carnatic" and numerous other vessels totally lost; it was hoped that some cargo could be saved. "Mentor", however, survived. Loss. During the 1782 Central  Atlantic hurricane in September 1782, "Mentor" foundered in the Grand Banks of Newfoundland with the loss of 31 of her 34 crew. "Sarah" rescued the survivors. "Mentor" was on a voyage from Jamaica to Liverpool, Lancashire. Captain Whiteside, his second mate, and a boy were the three survivors. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References