Rattlesnake, 1791
Type: Ship-sloop ; Armament 16
Launched : 1791 ; Disposal date or year : 1814
Notes:

2 Feb 1794 Vice-admiral Sir John Jervis departed from Barbadoes with a fleet, including the Rattlesnake, for Martinique. Seamen from many of the ships played an important role in moving heavy guns over difficult terrain and in the various assaults required to subdue the Island. Elements from the fleet then went on to take Sainte-Lucie, Guadeloupe, and other islands, in subsequent months.

March and April 1794, operations at the Islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe.

Early Aug 1795 a part of a squadron, the Rattlesnake, Captain John William Spranger, arrived in Simon's bay, Cape of Good Hope, with troops, with a view to taking the province, which was subsequently achieved in the September, following the arrival of reinforcements. During this period the Dutch ship Willemstadt en Boetzlaar was taken, re-named Princess, and fitted out as a 20-gun ship, along with the armed brig Star, the latter being re-named the Hope.

5 Feb 1796 arrived at Negombo, a squadron, including the Rattlesnake, Captain Edward Ramage, with troops, with the object taking the important fortress of Colombo, Ceylon, which was achieved on the 15th.

7 Jul 1796 Rattlesnake, Stately, and Echo captured the French privateer Milanie on the Cape of Good Hope.

17 Aug 1796 Simon's bay, Cape of Good Hope. Was present at the capitulation of the Dutch squadron, greatly out-gunned by a much larger British squadron.

15 Mar 1798, present when the Danish ship Matilde Marie, from Copenhagen to Mauritius, with naval stores and sundries was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station : naval stores condemned.

20 Mar 1798, present when the Danish sloop Fanny, from Roderiga, to Mauritius, laden with paddy and Indian corn was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station : vessel sunk, cargo condemned.

20 Mar 1798, present when the French brig Le Dragon, from Madagascar, to Mauritius with slaves was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station : vessel sunk, cargo condemned.

22 Mar 1798, present when the Danish sloop Forsoget, from Serampore to Mauritius with piece goods was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station : under trial.

27 Mar 1798, present when the French sloop Francis Augustus, in ballast was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station: condemned.

31 Mar 1798, present the French brig Abondance, from Madagascar to Mauritius, in ballast was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station: condemned.

29 May 1798, present when the Danish ship Christianus Septimus from Batavia to Copenhagen with coffee and sugar was detained on the Cape of Good Hope station : under trial."

21 Nov 1798 the Oiseau and Rattlesnake take the Spanish schooner Santa Rosa, from Buenos Ayres, bound to the Mauritius with 12,320 dollars, beef, pork, and flour ; arrived at the Cape the 23 Dec 1798.

20-21 Sep 1799 inconclusive action between the store-ship Camel, sloop Rattlesnake and the French 36-gun frigate Preneuse.

Circa Feb 1800 Lieutenant R. Curtis, son to Sir Roger Curtis, is promoted to the rank of Master and Commander, and appointed to the command of his Majesty's ship Rattlesnake, at the Cape.

1 - 2 May 1800 prize money resulting from the operations at the Islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe due for payment.

10 Nov 1800 following the return of the Jupiter to the Cape of Good Hope on completion of a 6 months cruise off Mauritius, but having since experienced an awful storm off Madagascar causing the ship to become leaky. As a result the Flag Officer transferred his flag to the Jupiter and sent the Lancaster, with the Adamant and Rattlesnake under the command of Captain Hotham to cruise off Mauritius. See p. 91 of Naval Chronicle 1801 Vol 5 - Jan - Jun.

15 Oct 1802 prize money due to be paid at the Cape of Good Hope on the Hull and Cargo of the Spanish Brig Numero Setet, the Spanish Ship L'Edouard, the French Brig Paquebot, the Cargo of the French Brig La Mouche, and such Parts of the Cargo, and Materials of the Brig L'Uranie, as was saved from Wreck, by the Lancaster, Adamant, Rattlesnake, and Euphrosyne, September 1800 ;

Circa 24 Feb 1802 Captain Lieutenant Fothergill, of the Lancaster, is promoted to the rank of Commander, and appointed to the Hindostan, vice Captain Mottley, who succeeds Captain Curtis in the Rattlesnake.

Circa 25 May 1802 Lieutenants M'Farlane and Le Grove are made Commanders, the former is appointed to the Penguin, and the latter to the Rattlesnake.

Circa 20 Oct 1802 Lieutenant Fothergill, of the Lancaster, who so nobly defended the Rattlesnake against the Preneuse French frigate, in Algoa Bay, to be Master and Commander of the Hindustan.

5 Jul 1803 with France attempting to recover her war-time losses in the East Indies news that a renewal of the war was imminent brought about a number of manoeuvres and events between the French and British ships-of-war on the station.

Circa 26 May 1804 the Admiralty appears to be confirming the capture of the Rattlesnake in the East Indies, but can't find any further mentions thereof.

May 1805 East Indies.

9 Jul 1806 the Rattlesnake and Powerful capture the French frigate privateer Bellone, which under the name of Blanche, became classed as a 28-gun frigate

24 Jan 1807 captured the French privateer Deux Soeurs on the East Indies station.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire 10 Jan 1814 Reported to have departed on a cruise.

Deal 14 Sep 1814 Remains in the Downs.