Basilisk, 1801
Type: Gun-Brig ; Armament 14
Launched : 1801 ; Disposal date or year : 1815
Notes:

7 May 1801 arrived Sheerness, the Terror, Locust, Basilisk, Mariner, Bloodhound, gun-brigs, from the R. Thames.

13 Jun 1801 came into Plymouth Sound from Concale Bay, and from the squadron of Captain Cunningham. She brought in a large ship cut out by the boats of that squadron in the most spirited style from under a heavy battery laden with cordage and flour.

16-18 Aug 1801 Maidstone, Basilisk and Bloodhound involved in operations along the Coast of France in the region of Barfleur, Marcou, Port Basin, however the wind and tide, along with the way the ships were armed ie with shorter ranged 12, rather than more practical 18 pounders, contrived to allow French shipping to escape along the shore untouched, protected by shore based batteries and field pieces.

16 Sep 1801 arrived Spithead, from Marcou.

12 Oct 1801 arrived Spithead, from a cruise off Marcou (off Cape la Hogue).

30 Oct 1801 arrived Spithead, the Basilisk gun-brig, Lieutenant Gooch, from Marcou.

4 Jan 1802 in Portsmouth harbour.

1 May 1802 departed Spithead to the eastward.

29 May 1802 arrived Spithead, from Ireland.

16 Jun 1802 departed the Downs on a cruise, the frigate Amphion, with the gun brigs Bloodhound and Basilisk.

6 Sep 1802 departed Sheerness for the Downs.

1 Dec 1802 the Morning Post reports that the gun brigs Basilisk, Minx and Conflict had been sent to Shields, Northumberland, circa 13 Nov 1802, which were present when merchant seamen at the port rioted about the low level of wages being paid, (they and are asking five guineas for a London voyage), and committed acts of violence, such as dragging men out of ships, preventing the vessels from sailing. The Mayor negotiated with the seamen and ship owners with a view to attempting to resolve the differences between the two parties, and tranquility appeared to have been restored. However, the wind prevented the vessels ready to sail from sailing, and the violence reared its head again, but with the presence of the Mayor, and Newcastle Magistrates, and assistance from the gun brigs "everything was kept tolerably quiet." One of the ringleaders of the strike, a deserter from HM Navy, surrendered himself, and gave the names of the men most active in the strike to the authorities and measures were taken to detain them and bring them before the Magistrates, with a view to preserving the peace. It was noted in the article that the sailors do not "stang" those who refuse to join them, but force them to march in the streets with their faces blacked, and jackets inside out. [I assume that the word "stang" is used in the context of "sting," ie to wound or injure ?]. Some of the pressed men serving on board the above vessels took the opportunity of the riots to desert, but their actions were noted by the seamen and had their faces blacked etc., and were compelled to join the marches in the streets for the rest of the day.

6 Jan 1803 the Basilisk, lying at Sheerness.

21 Jan 1803 departed Sheerness harbour and sailed on a cruise.

10 Mar 1803 arrived Sheerness and come into harbour, owing to the tremendous weather.

23 Jun 1803 remains in the Downs, the Sulphur, the Gelykheid, and Basilisk.

29 Jun 1803 arrived in the Downs with a convoy from the Westward, and has now hoisted a signal for a convoy for the Westward.

30 Jul 1803 arrived in the Downs from a cruise.

30 Aug 1803 arrived in the Downs last night and departed this morning on a cruise.

11 Sep 1803 departed Sheerness the Basilisk, and Escort, gun brigs, with a convoy of 21 sail for the Baltic.

14 Oct 1803 the Hound, Galgo and Basilisk, arrived Hull and dropped off a number of vessels from their convoy from the Baltic, for Hull, and then departed for the South.

15 Oct 1803 Hound, and Basilisk, arrived N Yarmouth, possibly with the remains of their convoy, since they remained under sailing orders.

4 Nov 1803 arrived the Basilisk, Lieut Shepheard, in the Downs from a cruise off the coast of France.

7 Nov 1803 arrived Sheerness.

17 Nov 1803 arrived in the Downs the Basilisk, Milbrooke, and Speculator from a cruise off Calais.

24 Nov 1803 arrived in the Downs the Basilisk, and Mariner, from a cruise, and sailed again with HM ships Aimable and Squirrel frigates, and Autumn sloop, with many other ships on their several stations off the coast of France.

25 Nov 1803 arrived in the Downs from a cruise off Boulogne.

14 Dec 1803 departed the Downs on a cruise.

Circa 9 Apr 1804 Lieut Dobbin, apptd to the Basilisk.

23 Oct 1804 when off Boulogne, somewhat later in the day Capt W W C R Owen, Immortalite, accompanied by the Orestes and Basilisk, reported that at half past three this afternoon, as he approached Cape Grisnez, he observed a division of 15 of the enemy's small vessels keeping close inshore, undercover of their batteries and accompanying horse artillery, making the best of their way to shelter themselves within the Banc de Laine. The rest of the report can be found in the online London Gazette: Publication date: 23 October 1804 ; Issue: 15748 Page:1320.

May 1805 on the Downs Station.

29 Sep 1808 the Morning Advertiser reports that the Basilisk, gun brig, is putting together a convoy at Leith for Orkney and Shetland Isles.

30 Sep 1808 captured the Danish privateer Don Flinkke, 4 guns, and 24 men.

22 Oct 1808 the Spitfire and Basilisk sent to the assistance of the sloop Cygnet reported by the Dowlaw signal station, near Dunbar, to have cut away her masts and bowsprit and thrown some of her guns overboard and brought her back to Leith Roads.

16 Jan 1810 departed Sheerness.

12 Dec 1811 departed Cadiz with transports for Tariffa.

circa 30 Jan 1812 remains Cadiz.

May 1812 the Hyacinth, Termagant and Basilisk collaborate with the Spanish on the coast of Grenada, in expelling the French from their country.

Plymouth 6 Nov 1813 arrived from Oporto.

Falmouth 20 Dec 1814 departed for Bristol.

Plymouth 12 Mar 1815 arrived.