Liberty, 1779
Type: Brig ; Armament 16
Purchased : 1779 ; Disposal date or year : 1816
Notes:

18 Jan 1785 departed Plymouth on a cruise.

29 Mar 1785 arrived Plymouth from a cruise.

1 Apr 1785 departed Plymouth on a cruise.

24 Jun 1785 arrived Portsmouth from a cruise.

Aug 1793 Liberty and Squirrel captured the French privateer Patriote.

Aug 1793 Liberty and Trimmer captured the French privateer Courier.

18 Mar 1796 Captain Sir William Sidney Smith, of the Diamond, having already sounded the entrance to the port of Herqu, entered the port accompanied by the brig Liberty, Lieutenant George M'Kinley, and lugger Aristocrat : whilst there the Etourdie corvette, four brigs, two sloops, and one of two armed luggers, were set on fire and destroyed.

15 Jan 1799 at Spithead.

19 Mar 1799 at Spithead.

27 Feb 1800 Portsmouth, departed the Liberty, with a convoy, for Plymouth.

21 Mar 1800 Portsmouth, departed the Liberty brig for Guernsey.

8 Apr 1801 arrived Spithead, the Racoon, Capt Rathbone, with the Liberty brig, from Jersey.

15 Apr 1801 a Court Martial was held on board his Majesty's ship Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, for the trial of Thomas Hall, William Bezen, and William Harris, seamen, belonging to the Liberty brig, for desertion. The prisoners were all found guilty, and sentenced to receive 100 lashes each.

21 Jul 1801 following the loss of the Jason it was reported that the French were attempting to refloat the wreck with a view to taking her into St. Malo, and so far had succeeded in hauling her under the protection of their batteries having removed her guns &c. The squadron off the coast decided on an attempt to burn her and on the 5 Aug., the boats of the squadron, boarded the wreck, notwithstanding the formidable opposition presented by the batteries, and numerous smaller vessels with which she was surrounded. Lt. Ross of the Weazle proceeded to set her on fire, but owing to the rising tide, the project proved abortive. However, it was noted that the condition of the vessel was still such as to make her a valuable acquisition to the enemy and a further attempt was resolved on to try to blow her up on the following day. Lt. Ross again proceeded to the wreck with the boats of the Weazle, Insolent, and Liberty, at the same time engaging the enemy squadron for the purpose of diverting their attention from our object. At 1230 Lieutenant Ross boarded under a heavy fire from the batteries ; and at one o'clock, having arranged every thing, and set fire to the train, the gallant party left the ship, and in 35 minutes she was blown to atoms without a man being either killed or wounded.

30 Jul 1801 arrived Spithead from a cruise.

4 Jan 1802 remains at Spithead, Lt Cook.

7 Jan 1802 came into Portsmouth harbour.

23 Feb 1802 arrived Spithead from a cruise.

18 Jun 1802 arrived Spithead the Liberty brig, Lt Cook, from a cruise.

24 Jun 1802 departed Spithead with the Advice cutter, on a cruise.

11 Oct 1802 arrived Spithead, the Liberty, Lt Cook, from a cruise.

14 Oct 1802 departed Spithead to the eastward.

18 Oct 1802 arrived in the Downs and passed through to Sheerness and Deptford.

17 Feb 1803 will be commissioned at Deptford next week.

11 Aug 1803 arrived Spithead the Liberty, Lieut Courtney, from Jersey.

16 Nov 1803 arrived Spithead from a cruise, the Liberty, Lieut Codd. It is reported that she came across a French convoy of 25 sail, proceeding from Granville to Cherbourg, and forced several on shore, and took 3, that are now save in harbour, here at Portsmouth.

18 Nov 1803 departed Spithead on a cruise.

10 Dec 1803 the Liberty, Lieut Codd, appears to have attempted to anchor in Plymouth Sound to escape the bad weather, but the weather was so bad that it drove her into Ferristone Bay, where they had to cut her masts away to ride out the storm and prevent her going ashore. She will be taken into Hamoaze when the weather improves to make good the damage she's received &c.

31 Mar 1804 arrived Spithead from Plymouth.

10 Apr 1804 departed Spithead for Jersey.

12 Aug 1804 arrived Spithead from a cruise.

May 1805 Channel Fleet

29 Jun 1812 captured the Nancy, laden with rum, coffee, sugar, lead, and molasses.

29 Jul 1812 captured the Freeman, laden with beef, pork, etc.

29 Dec 1812 England. Is reported to have been retained on the West Indies station.