HMS Morne Fortunee (1808)

HMS Morne Fortunee was a French privateer captured in 1808 and taken into Royal Navy service. She participated in the capture of Guadeloupe in 1810 before she was broken up at Antigua in October 1813.

History
UK
Name:	HMS Morne Fortunee
Acquired:	1808 by capture
Honours and awards:	Naval General Service Medal (NGSM), with clasp "Guadaloupe"
Fate:	Broken up 1813
General characteristics [1]
Tonnage:	184,[2] or 210 (bm)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Brig
Complement:	Privateer:60[2] RN:55
Armament:	Privateer:5 guns (pierced for 14)[2] RN:8 × 12-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder chase guns
Notes:	Built of Bermuda cedar

Capture

In August 1808 HMS Belette captured the French privateer Joséphine, which the Royal Navy took into service as Morne Fortunee.

Royal Navy

By one report Lieutenant John James Rorie commissioned her in 1808.[1] However, that may simply reflect confusion with his being in command of her predecessor, HMS Morne Fortunee for a period during the year; that Morne Fortunee was not lost until January 1809.

In 1809 Morne Fortunee was under the command of Lieutenant Willis (or Wills). He commanded her when she participated in the capture of Guadeloupe in January–February 1810. She was among the vessels for which in 1847 the Admiralty awarded the NGSM with clasp "Guadaloupe".[3]

In 1810 Lieutenant Wells replaced Willis. Lieutenant Joseph Steele replaced Wells in 1811.

Citations and references

Citations

1. Winfield (2008), p. 349.
2. Demerliac (2003), p. 338.
3. "No. 20939". The London Gazette. 26 January 1849. p. 243.

References

• Demerliac, Alain (2003). La Marine du Consulat et du Premier Empire: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1800 A 1815 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-903179-30-1.
• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.