USS Epervier (1814)

USS "Epervier" was a sloop in the United States Navy during the Second Barbary War.

"Epervier" was captured by the sloop-of-war USS|Peacock|1813|6 off Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 29 April 1814, during the War of 1812. Despite the extensive damage inflicted in this engagement, she was dispatched to Savannah, Georgia, for condemnation.

Following repairs she was taken into the Navy and assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr., whose mission was to stop the harassment of American shipping by the Dey of Algiers. Master Commandant John Downes commanded the brig. "Epervier" joined with USS|Guerriere|1814|2, USS|Constellation|1797|2, and USS|Ontario|1813|2 in the Battle off Cape Gata, capturing the 46-gun frigate "Mashuda".

Consequent to the signing of a treaty with the Dey of Algiers, Decatur chose "Epervier", Lieutenant John T. Shubrick in command, to bear a copy of the treaty and some captured flags to the United States. She sailed through the Straits of Gibraltar on 14 July 1815, and apparently was lost with 132 sailors and 2 marines. She may have encountered a hurricane reported in the Atlantic on 9 August 1815.

To date, no other ship in the United States Navy has been named "Epervier".