Locust, 1801
Type: Gun Brig ; Armament 14
Launched : 1801 ; Disposal date or year : 1814
Notes:

Apr 1801 commissioned in the Downs by Lt Baugh.

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

22 May 1801 the hired armed cutter Queen arrived yesterday afternoon in the Downs, from the Coast of Holland, and brings the following intelligence - that being off Flushing, with a view to watching the motions of the Dutch squadron apparently ready for sea, they early yesterday morning discovered a 64 gun ship, one frigate, a brig, and a number of gun-vessels under weigh from the above place ; but a squadron of H.M. ships from this station heaving in sight, the whole fleet run in, and brought up again. In consequence of this information Adm. Lutwidge has ordered to sea the Alonzo, Falcon, and Diligence, sloops of war, Locust and Ferreter, gun brigs, which sailed from the Downs last night ; this morning they are followed by the Autumn sloop, Mariner and Archer gun brigs. Should this force be fortunate enough to fall in with the enemy, although the latter be a superior force, little doubt can be entertained but that the issue of a battle would be a renewed proof of the invincibility of the British navy. The Queen spoke a Prussian brig from Flushing, from which they learned that the 64 gun ship and frigate were bound to the Texel, and the gun vessels to Dunkirk.

17 Jun 1801 remains in the Downs.

9 Sep 1801 the Overyssel, Magicienne, Amazon, Leyden, Alkmaar, York, Isis, Shannon, Gannet, Hound, Gier, and Autumn sloops ; Volcano, Vesuvius, Terror, Discovery, Zebra bombs ; Victoire, Nancy & Akers, fire ships ; the Locust, Plumper, Bold, Eclipse, Ferriter, Snipe, Minx, Jackall, and Mallard, gun vessels, apart from seven gun brigs who were about to depart that evening with the Eugenie and Diligence for the Coast of France ; remained in the Downs overnight.

11 Sep 1801 departed the Downs for the Coast of France the Jackall, Locust and Bold.

13 Oct 1801 returned to Walmer Roads with Captain Russel's division from off Calais, blowing hard.

15 Oct 1801 departed the Downs the Bold, Snipe, Ferreter, Charger and Locust, on a cruise.

19 Oct 1801 arrived in the Downs from a cruise the sloops Hound and Galgo, and gun vessels Snipe, Bold, Ferreter, Locust, Jackall, Griper, and Charger, it blowing a gale.

20 Nov 1801 remains in the Downs, in company with the Overyssel, &c.

20 Apr 1802 departed Sheerness for Portsmouth with foreign seamen, to be put on board the Argo frigate, lying at Spithead, to be sent to their respective countries.

22 Apr 1802 arrived Spithead the Locust, gun-brig, with 400 (?) discharged seamen, from Chatham.

26 Apr 1802 departed Spithead to the Eastward.

1 May 1802 departed the Downs for Sheerness.

3 May 1802 departed Sheerness for the River.

31 May 1802 arrived Sheerness with newly raised men, and sailed again for the R. Thames.

29 Jun 1802 departed Sheerness for the Thames.

2 Jul 1802 arrived Sheerness.

Sep 1802 commissioned by Lt Lake.

25 Sep 1802 a Court Martial was held on board the Hercule, at Portsmouth, on John Scriven and George Blanchard, marines, of HM gun-brig Locust, for having, when on sentry in the night of the 13th inst. taken away the cutter from the said brig, and deserted to the shore ; and also for robbing Andrew Hanlin, a seaman, of the said gun-vessel, of a watch and a bag of clothes. The charges were proved against Scriven, and he was sentenced to have 500 lashes ; and in part proved against Blanchard, who was sentenced to have only 200. Capt. Solomon Ferris, President.

27 Sep 1802 departed Spithead the Charger and Locust gun-vessels on a cruise.

12 Dec 1802 reported to have recently arrived in the Downs.

13 Dec 1802 departed the Downs, the Locust, Lt Leake, for Portsmouth.

26 Dec 1802 passed through the Downs on a cruise.

10 Jan 1803 arrived at Spithead from a cruise.

14 Jan 1803 departed Spithead for Ireland to recruit seamen.

15 Feb 1803 arrived in the Downs from Sheerness.

16 Feb 1803 remain in the Downs the Immortalite, Ambuscade, Lapwing and Locust.

20 Apr 1803 remain in the Downs : the Romney, Amelia, Pique, frigates ; Jalouse, sloop ; Snipe, Locust, Censor, and Archer, gun brigs ; Milbrook, schooner ; and several revenue cutters.

29 Apr 1803 the Pique frigate, and Censor and Locust gun brigs, arrived yesterday from the Eastwards with over 200 pressed men for the ships being fitted out for commission in Portsmouth harbour, including the Russel, Capt Williams ; Grampus, Capt Caulfield.

5 May 1803 departed Spithead with the Censor for the Downs.

11 May 1803 remains in the Downs : the Minerve, Jalouse, Locust, and Millbrook.

13 May 1803 remained in the Downs the Gelykheid, Minerva, Jalouse, Lynx, Vixen, Locust, and Stag revenue cutter.

8 Jun 1803 the revenue cutter Swallow, just arrived in the Downs from the squadron off Goree, where she left the Gelykheid, Amelia, Raisonable, Penelope, and Locust.

17 Jun 1803 arrived the Locust, Lt Lake, at Sheerness, from a 3 month cruise ; she has brought in 3 Dutch fishing boats, which she detained off Goree.

8 Jul 1803 arrive N Yarmouth Roads and remain, the Leda, Adm Thornborough ; Gelykheid, and Penelope, frigates ; Zebra, and Locust, gun brigs ; Hecla, bomb ; from a cruise in the North Sea.

11 Jul 1803 arrived Sheerness from N Yarmouth Roads.

14 Jul 1803 the Immortalite, frigate ; Sulphur, bomb ; and Locust, gun brig, Lt Lake, departed the Downs for a cruise on the French coast.

25 Aug 1803 arrived at the Nore, having been absent some time, and having taken 3 French prizes and a smuggler.

31 Aug 1803 departed the Nore.

1 Sep 1804 arrived in the Downs.

Circa 9 Apr 1804 the squadron blockading Boulogne has been driven off their station by the current strong westerly gales : the Locust and Fury, bomb, have arrived in the Downs whilst the rest of the squadron has dropped down to Dungeness.

Circa 28 Jul 1804 the Pluto, Capt Janverin, brings an account of a more serious attack being made by Capt Oliver, of the Melpomene, and the Havre squadron, on the gun boats of that port, than any yet effected. The Squadron has been strengthened by the Trusty, Magnanime, Locust, Gun vessels, and Explosion, Zebra and Hecla, bombs.

31 Jul 1804 in company with the Melpomene, Trusty, Ariadne, Magnanime, Pluto, Meteor, Favorite, Merlin, Hecla, and Zebra, Locust Brig, and Nancy and King George Cutters captured the Postilion.

1 Aug 1804 involved in the bombardment off Le Havre.

3 Oct 1804 arrived Spithead, the Locust, Capt Leake, from the squadron off Havre.

9 Nov 1804 departed Spithead for off Havre.

12 Nov 1804 departed Spithead on a cruise.

10 Dec 1804 at 2 am, the London Gazette reports that the Dart, cutter, Lieut Hew Stewart, and the Susannah, explosion vessel, along with Capt Brownrigg, and Act Lieut Bartholomew, of the Antelope, with carcasses made an attempt on Fort Rouge at Calais. The gun brig Locust covered the boats. See: 8 Dec 1804 the use of explosion vessels etc. at Calais, and also the London Gazette: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15762/page/1497

23-25 Apl 1805 was a part of a squadron which captured off Boulogne the Dutch Armed Schuyts Nos 43, 45, 48, 52, 54, and 57, and the unarmed Transport No 3.

May 1805 Sheerness : refitting ; in commission.

Yarmouth 20 Jan 1811 departed for the Nore.

Portsmouth 6 May 1811 departed.

Deal 28 Jul 1811 departed on a cruise of the North Foreland.

Deal 19 Aug 1811 arrived from a cruise.

Deal 2 Sep 1811 departed to cruise off Dungeness.

Plymouth 3 Sep 1811 arrived from a cruise.

Portsmouth 6 Sep 1811 departed on a cruise.

Deal 20 Oct 1811 arrived from a cruise.

Yarmouth 7 Nov 1811 Will sail shortly if the wind remains favourable.

Deal 28 Jan 1812 arrived from off the French coast.

Yarmouth 29 Jun 1812 departed for the Downs.