Perseus, 1776
Type: Bomb, late 6th rate ; Armament 12
Launched on the River Thames in 1776 ;
Disposal date or year : 1805
Tons (BM) : 432.
Notes:

28 Nov 1798, when in company with the Santa Dorotea, Strombola, and Bull Dog, captured a Spanish man of war brig, 16, and 88 men off Alboran.

1 Jan 1799 Capt. James Oswald. Employed as a Bomb Vessel at Spithead.

2 Feb 1799 arrived off Alexandria. On the following days the bomb-vessels stood towards the town throwing in their shells as they approached.

7 Mar 1799 departed to join Nelson off Palermo.

18 Mar 1799 arrived at Palermo from off Alexandria.

22 May-mid Aug 1799 in the bay of Naples assisting allied forces ashore.

6 Nov 1800 Plymouth, passed up a convoy from the Straits under the command of the Perseus frigate, which had parted company with the Guillaume Tell, 86, in a gale, off Cape Finisterre.

7 Feb 1802 Buffalo, Coromandel, Perseus, departed Spithead with convicts on board for New South Wales ; the convoy also including 3 East Indiamen, and a large fleet for the Mediterranean and the West Indies ; by about 5 o'clock the whole of the fleet got round the point of St. Helen's, with a fine breeze to carry them down Channel.

12 Feb 1802 the Coromandel, and Perseus, recently departed Spithead for Botany Bay, and put back due to contrary winds, departed Spithead again with convicts for New South Wales.

4 Jun 1803 departed the Downs in the evening the Mercury, Fairy, Lark, and Peterell, sloops ; with the bombs Perseus, Fury, and Terror, with a convoy to Spithead.

Circa 20 Jun 1803 brought into Spithead the ship Margaretta Elizabeth, laden with marble, bound from Leghorn to Ostend, prize to the Perseus, Capt Melhuish.

28 Jun 1803 departed Plymouth with a convoy to the Eastward. She also has under her charge the Dutch ship Commerantia, from Smyrna, with a silk cargo, detained by the Dasher, for Standgate Creek, and quarantine, having a foul bill of health.

2 Jul 1803 arrived Spithead from a cruise.

6 Jul 1803 departed Spithead for the Downs with a convoy.

9 Jul 1803 arrived Sheerness.

8 Aug 1803 the Immortalite departed the Downs with the Perseus bomb, on a cruise to the coast of France.

24 Aug 1803 departed the Downs for the Nore.

29 Aug 1803 arrived Sheerness, the Perseus, to have her mortar beds taken out and repaired owing to the damage they sustained off Boulogne.

11 Sep 1803 arrived in the Downs the Fury, and Perseus bombs from a cruise.

12 Sep 1803 departed the Downs on a cruise.

14 Sep 1803 bombardment of Dieppe and St.-Valery en Caux, on the French coast.

23 Sep 1803 departed the Downs for the Northward, the Perseus, and Fury, bombs, and the gun brig Mariner.

3 Oct 1803 arrived Sheerness the Sulphur, Terror, Explosion, and Perseus, with their tenders.

14 Oct 1803 departed the Downs the Perseus, and Ferreter on a cruise.

2 Nov 1803 remain in the Downs the Monarch, Right Hon Adm Lord Keith ; Utrecht, R.-Adm Montague, Capt Loring ; Amaranthe, Capt Bays ; Merlin ; and Lynx, sloops ; Perseus, Capt Melhuish, bomb ; Milbrook, schooner, Lieut Starck ; Minx, Lieut Manchison, and Vixen, Lieut Brown, gun brigs.

18 Nov 1803 remains in the Downs the Monarch, Utrecht, Raisonable, Magicienne, Squirrel, Amaranthe, Champion, Vulture, Hound, Merlin sloops ; Perseus, and Fury, bombs ; Seaflower, brig ; Starling, gun brig ; Findon, hired sloop, and the transports Plymouth, Supply, and Sussex Oak.

Circa 28 Apr 1804 Capt Searle, apptd to the Perseus.

Circa 16 Jun 1804 Capt Davis apptd to the Perseus.

May 1805 Sheerness in Ordinary