HMS Arethusa (1759)

The Arethusa was a French, fifth-rate frigate, launched in 1757 during the Seven Years' War. She was subsequently captured by the Royal Navy.

On the 18th of May, 1759, she was in transit from Rochefort to Brest, under the command of the Marquis Vandrenil, when she was intercepted in Hodierne Bay by three Royal Navy ships - HMS Thames, HMS Venus and HMS Chatham] .

She attempted to escape but after two hours, she lost her top-masts and was overtaken by her pursuers. The Thames and Venus engaged her with heavy fire, causing 60 casualties before she surrendered.

She entered service with the Royal Navy. For the rest of the war, she was in service in British home waters and was responsible for the capture of several French, privateer cutters.

In 1777, a Scotsman, James Hill [cite book
title= The Terrific Register: Or, Record of Crimes, Judgments, Providences, and Calamities
year= 1825
location= London
publisher= Sherwood, Jones, and co.
page=647] , known as "Jack the Painter", was hanged from her mainmast for burning the Rope House at Portsmouth Royal Dockyard on 7 December 1776, to aid the cause of American independence. [cite web
title = History 1690 - 1840
publisher = Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust
date = 2007
url = http://www.portsmouthdockyard.org.uk/Page%206.htm
accessdate = 2008-08-04]

On June 17, 1778, she fought a famous duel against the French, 26-gun frigate, Belle Poule. The Belle-Poule was was on a reconnaissance mission, along with the 26-gun frigate "Licorne", the corvette "Hirondelle" and the smaller "Coureur" when she encountered a large British squadron that included the Arethusa.

Since her days in French service, the Arethusa had had a reputation for speed and she was the first to reach the French ships. A furious battle between her and the Belle Poule resulted in the deaths of the French captain, Lieutenant Chadeau de la Clocheterie, and 30 of his crew. But the Arethusa was crippled by the loss of a mast and had to withdraw, allowing the Belle Poule and the Licorne to escape the approaching British, although the two smaller French ships were captured.

This battle was the first between British and French forces during the American Revolutionary War [cite web
title = The French Navy and the American War of Independence
date = 2007
url = http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/bonnel.htm
accessdate = 2008-08-05] and was widely celebrated in France as a victory, even inspiring a hair-stylein court circles that included a model of the Belle Poule. [cite web
title = Hair and Hairdos of the 18th Century
date = 2007
url = http://www.marquise.de/en/1700/howto/frisuren/frisuren.shtml
accessdate = 2008-08-09] It was also viewed as a victory in Britain and became the subject of a traditional Sea shanty, "The Saucy Arethusa" (Roud # 12675). The Arethusa is also the subject of a song by The Decemberists.

On the 19 March 1779, the Arethusa was wrecked off Ushant, at a point coord|48|27|4|N|5|4|4|W|. [cite web
title = HMS Arethusa (+1779)
publisher = Wrecksite
date = 2007
url = http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16161
accessdate = 2008-08-03]

References