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PELICAN (18) Built in 1795, Blackwall.
Sold in 1806.

  • 1796 Captain John Clarke SEARLE, who had been posted on the previous 13 July but retained his Commander's command, West Indies.
  • His Majesties sloop PELICAN Sep.
    20 1796
  • " Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you, that on Friday the 23rd. instant, at day-break, D-----(?) bearing S. E.by S. six or seven leagues, I found myself close on the beam of one of the enemy's large frigates; not deeming it prudent to court an action with an enemy of such superior force, I made sail to the North West, but the wind blowing very fresh, and the enemy having the advantage of the weather gage, and sailing remarkably fast, she was soon within gun shot of us.
  • The confidence I had in the Officers and Crew of the PELICAN induced me to shorten sail and engage the enemy.
    At seven o'clock she began her fire upon us, and at ten minutes before eight she being abreast of us, and within musket shot, the action commenced on our part.
    In this situation a very brisk fire was kept up till seven minutes before nine, when the enemy appeared to be in some confusion, and I have most sincerely to regret, that his hauling on board his main-jack, and making off to the northward under all possible sail, prevented my continuing the action, the sails and rigging of the PELICAN at this juncture not being in a condition to admit of an immediate pursuit.
  • From an officer of the 60th. reg.
    who was a prisoner on board the frigate during the action, and who was released immediately on her arrival at Guadeloupe, I have learnt that it was the MEDEA, (actually the Mé,dé e) who was on her return from a cruise; he says she mounts 40 guns, and had near 300 men on board, that she suffered considerable damage and had several men killed and wounded.
  • I have the honour to be etc.
    J. C. Searle."
  • "The Committee of Merchants for encouraging the capture of French ships of War and privateers, at their last meeting voted to Capt. J. C. SEARLE of the PELICAN sloop, a piece of plate value 100 guineas." (Bath Chronicle 8 Dec.
  • 1796 from Carole Carine)
  • 1799 R. PHILPOT, Jamaica.
  • 1800 E. T. PARKER, Jamaica.
  • 1800 John THICKNESSE, Jersey.
    He entered Portsmouth on the 2 October 1800 after a cruise with the RESOLUTION, a Swedish ship laden with masts, which he had detained in the Channel and a smuggler laden with 400 casks of spirits.
    Four days later PELICAN sailed for Jersey.
  • On the 9 November 1800 PELICAN was driven on to rocks in St. Aubyn's bay, Jersey, during a tremendous storm which proved fatal to HAVICK but the officers and crews of both vessels and those of LION were able to escape after six hours exposure to mounting seas.
    The tide rose several feet at the height of the gale.
    The REDBRIDGE, schooner drove out to sea and there were fears that she had foundered but she turned up at Spithead having thrown all her guns overboard.
    On the 19th. AMBUSCADE sailed from Plymouth to collect the stores that had been saved from PELICAN and HAVICK.
  • PELICAN had to go into Plymouth for a refit.
    By the 8 July 1801 she was rigged overhead and only waited for men to be ready for sea.
    Capt. M'KINLEY, who since the battle of Copenhagen, had had pro tem.
    command of ARDENT was appointed to her. She sailed on the 26th. with a convoy for the Downs.
  • 1803 Capt. WHITBY Jamaica.
    PELICAN spent August and September 1803 watching the port of Les Cayes, Saint Domingue (Haiti), where the French garrison was being besieged by the blacks.
    (On the west coast at St. Nicholas Mole, Rear Ad. DUCKWORTH had to negotiate with the black General Dessalines to spare the lives of the French garrison there and allow him to evacuate them) On the 21 September the French at Les Cayes asked the Admiral, through PELICAN, for an armistice, so that arrangements could made to take them off, their numbers being greater than than the vessels in the harbour plus PELICAN could carry.
    Ad. DUCKWORTH had anticipated this by sending PIQUE and THESEUS.
  • 1804-5 John W. MARSHALL (1), Jamaica.
    On 23 August he captured the French schooner LAURETTE (5), after a chase of several hours and an exchange of several broadsides.
    The Frenchman had sailed from St. Domingo the previous night bound for Santiago de Cuba (St. Jago) to obtain more crew. She was armed with four 12-pounder carronades and one long 9-pounder.
  • PELI


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