Minerve / Minerva *, 1795
Type: 38-gun frigate large ; Armament 38
Taken by the Lowestoffe and Dido, in the Mediterranean, 24 June 1795.
Disposal date or year : 2 Jul 1803
Disposal Details : Captured after having run aground near Cherbourg crew saved, but made prisoners. Captain Jahleel Brenton. (see below)
BM: 1102 tons
Notes:

* Correct name Minerve, but so often written as Minerva.

24 Jun 1795 Taken in action by the Dido and Lowestoffe, frigates, Artemise left the scene without attempting to support the Minerve. Minerve was taken to Port Mahon and then Ajaccio and was subsequently added to the RN.

Dec 1796 Command of the naval force at Porto-Ferrajo intrusted to commodore Nelson, who shifted his pendant from the Captain, 74, to the Minerve frigate, the Mediterranean fleet having departed for Gibraltar and the R. Tiber.

19 Dec 1796 whilst the frigates Minerve, Captain George Cockburn, and Blanche, Captain d'Arcy Preston, were en route from Gibraltar to Porto-Ferrajo, the Spanish frigate Sabina was taken by the Minerve.

19 Dec 1796 following the above there was also an inconclusive action between the Minerve, and the Spanish frigate Matilda, which was abandoned due to the approach of a Spanish squadron.

23 Dec 1796 captured the French privateer Maria.

26 Dec 1796 anchored in the harbour of Porto-Ferrajo to embark the troops and stores.

29 Jan 1797 Porto-Ferrajo. Minerve, accompanied by the Romulus, Southampton and Dido frigates, Dolphin and Dromedary store-ships, two sloops, and 12 transports, departed for Gibraltar.

29 Jan 1797 in the evening, the Minerve and Romulus parted company and stood towards the French coast. On the 1 Feb they reconnoitred Toulon road, and successively the ports of Barcelona and Carthagena, and on the 10th rejoined their companions at Gibraltar.

13 Feb 1797 joined Sir John Jervis's squadron with intelligence of the Spanish fleet.

14 Feb 1797 Jervis's action with the Spanish off Cape St Vincent.

16 Feb 1797 Emerald, Minerve, Niger, Bonne-Citoyenne and Raven detached to look after the Santisima-Trinidad, subsequently joined by the Terpsichore, which would appear to be the only vessel to comply with these instructions.

31 Mar 1797 departed from Lisbon to blockade Cadiz.

29 May 1797 cutting out of the French brig Mutine from Santa-Cruz by the boats of the Lively and Minerve.

1 Jan 1799 Capt. G. Cockbum. At Portsmouth.

2 Jun 1799 the Emerald and Minerve captured this Morning, off the S. E. End of Sardinia, the French privateer ship Caroline, 16 Guns and 90 Men.

4 Dec 1799 captured on the Mediterranean station the Le Levrier French Vessel.

6 Jan 1800 captured on the Mediterranean station the French Vessel Bayonne and the Spanish Vessel Volcanol.

2 Mar 1800 captured the French privateer Furet, 14 guns and 80 men, of Nantes, out 17 days, has only taken the Alert, of North Yarmouth, which the Minerve has retaken.

During Apr 1800 off Vigo, reports having captured the French privateer La Mouche, of Bourdeaux, and the Spanish privateer Nuestra Senora del Carmo, of Mores, 1 gun, 34 men.

11 May 1800 the vessel Die Erax Anna, from Bourdeaux, laden with wine, &c. taken by the Minerve on the Mediterranean Station.

15 May 1800 Minerve and Netley captured the French privateer Vengeance.

25 May 1800 the Spanish brig Mexicano, from Bayonne bound to Teneriffe, in ballast, retaken by the Minerve on the Mediterranean Station.

29 Jun 1800 Minerve, in the Tagus.

11 Aug 1800 captured on the Mediterranean station the Spanish Vessel El Legero, laden with Sugar, Cocoa, Cochineal, and Indigo, and Dollars.

16 Sep 1800 in company with the Doris captured on the Mediterranean station the Spanish Vessel El Rey Carlos, laden with sugar, indigo, and cochineal.

26 Sep 1800 captured the French Brig Victorieux, laden with cotton, coffee, and sugar, from Cayenne bound to Bourdeaux.

28 Sep 1800 captured the French Ship L'Active, laden with sugar and coffee, from Guadaloupe bound to Bourdeaux.

20 Jan 1801 the Minerve was at Lisbon with the Santa Dorothea, Aurora, Netley and Milbrook when the packet Prince Adolphus arrived from Falmouth.

30 Jan 1801 the Hector was at Lisbon, in the Tagus, with the Minerva, Aurora, and Milbrook, when the Walsingham packet, Capt Roberts, arrived from Falmouth, after having run aground on the bar.

8 Feb 1801 the Danish brig Graff Bernstoffe, laden with nuts, detained by the Minerve on the Mediterranean Station.

8 Feb 1801 the Swedish galliot Catherina Christiana, laden with tar, detained by the Minerve, on the Mediterranean Station.

8 Feb 1801 the Euridice Swedish brig laden with wine, raisons and shumac, detained by Minerve, on the Mediterranean Station.

Circa 24 Feb 1801 captured a merchant vessel which formed a part of the French squadron bound for Egypt.

20 Mar 1801 the French ship La Julie Rosalie, from Toulon bound to Alexandria, laden with sundry merchandize and provisions; taken by La Minerve, Pearl, and Santa Teresa.

23 Mar 1801 reported to be at Minorca with a prize.

2 Sep 1801 the frigates Ph�nix, Pomone, and Minerve, re-captured the frigate Success and destroyed the French frigate Bravoure.

1 Dec 1801 arrived Spithead the Minerve, Rear-Admiral Sir J. B. Warren, Captain Cockburn, from the Mediterranean, 14 days from Gibraltar.

5 Feb 1802 departed Spithead La Minerve, 44 ; Santa Teresa, 44 ; Resource, armed en flute, to be paid off.

8 Feb 1802 departed the Downs for Sheerness the Minerve, Santa Teresa, and Resource.

8 Feb 1802 arrived Sheerness the Minerve, Santa Teresa, and Resource, from Spithead.

8 Feb 1802 arrived Sheerness the Minerve, Santa Teresa, and Resource, from Spithead.

Circa 21 Nov 1802 Captain Brenton apptd to the Minerve ?

1 Jan 1803 fitting out at Deptford for Channel Service.

25 Jan 1803 the Africaine and Minerve were supposed to depart Deptford for anchorages at Longreach / known as Long Reach these days, in the Medway River, but the Easterly wind and weather have ruled against it and it seems that they will have to wait until the Spring Tides on 6th Feb before trying again.

2 Feb 1803 the Minerve, Capt Brenton, departed Deptford for Long Reach.

23 Feb 1803 arrived in the Downs.

24 Feb 1803 departed the Downs for the Westward.

27 Feb 1803 put back to the Downs in view of strong Westerly winds.

7 Mar 1803 departed the Downs for the Westwards.

13 Mar 1803 came up to Spithead from St Helen's.

18 Mar 1803 departed Spithead for the Downs, the Minerve, Act Capt Kitteo.

20 Mar 1803 arrived in the Downs, from Spithead and remains, Capt Broughton in command.

7 Apr 1803 departed the Downs this morning to the Northward, the Isis, R.-Adm Thornborough, and Capt Lobb, in company with the Hydra, Capt Mundy ; Minerve, Capt Kittoe ; and the revenue cruisers Swallow, Lively, and Tartar.

11 Apr 1803 departed Spithead the Greyhound, revenue cruiser, with Capt Brenton, to take command of the Minerve, now cruizing off Goree.

27 Apr 1803 remain in the Downs : the Amelia, Caroline, and Minerva, frigates ; and sloop Jalouse.

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.

Circa 24 May 1803 sent into Portsmouth Le Hardie, sloop, with cyder, from Brest to Fecamp ; Marie brig with plank from Havre to St Maloes ; L'Espearance, in ballast, from Havre to Bourdeaux ; La Laboureaux, and La Patriot, with plank, from Havre to Brest, and the Pary Victorious, lade with salt, which she captured on Saturday and Sunday last, off Cherbourg.

28 May 1803 the Minerva brought into Spithead a valuable French East Indiaman, from Mauritius.

31 May 1803 arrived Spithead from a cruise off Cherbourg. 5 Jun 1803 departed Spithead on a cruise.

Circa 6 Jun 1803 has sent into Portsmouth the packet of Havre, laden with cotton and sugar, from Lisbon, bound to Havre, prize to the Minerve,

Circa 6 Jun 1803 Capt Brenton has been apptd to the Minerve, vice Bullen.

9 Jun 1803 arrived St Helen's and departed for Cherbourg that evening.

2 Jul 1803, grounded and was re-captured at the entrance of the harbour of Cherbourg.

Circa 8 Jul 1803 news received at Portsmouth via the cutter Falcon, arrived from off Cherbourg.

11 Jul 1803 prize money due to the ship's company of the Pomone, Phoenix, and Minerve, for the Success re-taken, see above, is due to be paid by Messrs Mottley and Grout, at the Griffin, in Villiers St, Strand.

Circa 25 Sep 1803 news from France advises that the crew of the Minerve are in good health after a march of 5 weeks to the interior of France. Officers are allowed to walk about the town allotted for their residence, and allowed 9d. per day each, to provide lodgings and provisions.

Circa 21 Jan 1804 Capt Brenton of the Minerve, his officers and men are returned from Epinal to Verdun, and were all well on the 2nd inst.

Circa 31 Mar 1804 reports are received from France regarding the crew of the Minerve : Capt Brenton has furnished the ship's company, at the cost of the British Government each of his men with a shirt, jacket and trowsers, stockings and a pair of shoes, and straw beds. This allowance has also been extended to the crews of merchant vessels who are allowed 2d. each per diem, and the Minerve 3d. The prisoners are not allowed to remain in one place for long and since 22 Nov 1803 have marched 200 miles. They also report that the crew of the packet Prince of Wales, captured at the start of the war, are all well.

23 Apr 1804 the following officers late of HM Ships Minerve and Shannon, are all well at Verdun, in France : Capts E L Gower, and Brenton ; Lieuts J L Roddam, T Douglas, G A Symes, & Hon G Walpole ; Master H Gooch ; Marine officer Alex Eckford ; Purser James Heslop ; Surgeon John Bell ; Master's Mates Wm Gilpen, Abr Robinson ; Mid Sam. Robinson, Wm Allen, T W Cecil, Sam Mottley, & Francis Little.