French ship Belle Poule (1802)

"Belle Poule" was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, built from plans by Jacques-Noël Sané and Borda. She was launched on 18 April 1802.

In March 1803, she was incorporated to the fleet of Rear-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois, whose mission was to re-take the colonies of the Indian Ocean, given to English at the peace of Amiens. The fleet included the 74-gun ship of the line "Marengo", the frigates "Atalante", "Belle Poule" and "Sémillante", troop ships and cargoes with food and ammunition.

At the beginning of November, the division set sail for Batavia to protect the Dutch colonies. En route, Linois destroyed the English counters in Bencoolen, capturing five ships, and sailed for the South China Sea, where the China Fleet of the British East India Company was expected. The fleets met in the Battle of Pulo Aura, but the greater numbers and aggressive action of the British East Indiamen, some of whom flew Royal Navy flags, drove the French away. Linois returned to Batavia and "Atalante" and "Belle Poule" were dispatched in the Gulf of Bengal; "Belle Poule" captured a few ships before returning to the "Ile de France" (now known as Mauritius).

In 1805 and 1806, "Belle Poule" and some other ships of the division cruised the African coasts between the Red Sea and the Cape of Good Hope, capturing some ships. On 13 March 1806, Linois met with the division of Vice-Admiral Sir John Warren, with seven ships of the line (including the 108-gun "London", the 82-gun "Ramilles" and "Repulse", and the 80-gun "Foudroyant"), 2 frigates (including the 48-gun "Amazone") and one corvette. After a fierce duel with "London", "Marengo" struck her colours; "Belle Poule" battled against "Amazone" and later against "Ramilles", and had to surrender as well.

She was commissioned into the Royal Navy, and eventually sold at Deptford in 1818.