Success, 1781
Type: 5th rate ; frigate ; Armament 32-gun (12-pounder)
Launched at Liverpool in 1781 ;
Disposal date or year : 1820
Tons (BM) : 683
Notes:

30 Sep 1795 captured the French privateer Poisson Volant on the West Indies station.

1 Jan 1799 Capt. P. Wilkinson. In the Channel.

15 Jan 1799 at Spithead.

19 Mar 1799 at Spithead.

3 May 1799 joined the blockading Fleet off Cadiz, reporting that on the 1st she had been chased by the French fleet, following its escape from Brest, resulting in the fleet getting under way and preparing for action.

12 May 1799 boats of the Success cut out the Spanish polacre Bella-Aurora from the harbour of La Selva.
List of Killed and Wounded on hoard the Boats of His Majesy's Ship Success on the 9th of June, 1799.
Barge.� John Grey, and John Londres, killed ; James Shaw (2d), Thomas Edwards, John Hughes, and William Robinson, wounded.
Launch.� William Orr, killed ; Lieutenant G. Stupart, Richard Hornsby, William Madden, and James Shaw, (2d) wounded.
Cutter.� Thomas Needham, and William Lamb, wounded.

3 Jun 1799 off Port Mahon.

31 Dec 1799 Plymouth, letters from the Success, off Malta, of 30 Sept. last, state that she and her consorts were all well.

15 Feb 1800 cruising off the south-west end of Sicily, reported to the blockading squadron at Malta that a small French squadron was approaching the island.

18 Feb 1800 capture of the Ville-de-Marseille armed store-ship and the G�n�reux, 74, off Malta.

24 Aug 1800 capture of the 40-gun French frigate, Diane, off Malta, added to the British navy under the name of Niobe.

10-13 Feb 1801 captured whilst shadowing a French squadron.

10 Apr 1801 letters received Plymouth from an officer of the Success frigate, captured by Gantheaume's squadron, the 18th February, dated Alice, the 13th March, near Toulon, state that they had been plundered by the French seamen, but were comfortable at Alice, and had written for assistance to Captain Cotes, the British commissary in France.

16 Jun 1801 came into dock at Sheerness to be repaired.

2 Sep 1801 re-taking of the frigate Succ�s (Success) off Vado and wrecking of the Bravoure.

Circa 26 Dec 1801 Captain G. Burlton, of the Haarlem, apptd to the Success.

29 Mar 1802 arrived at the Motherbank, from Malta, and put in quarantine.

1 Apr 1802 released from quarantine and transferred to Spithead.

7 Apr 1802 came into Portsmouth harbour this afternoon to be paid off and laid up.

18 Apr 1802 has, with the Princess Royal, Dido, Apollo, and Arethusa been paid off at Portsmouth.

30 Jun 1803 it has been announced in the Portsmouth section of the Hampshire Telegraph for 20 Jun 1803, that prize money due to the ship's company of the Foudroyant, Northumberland, Audacious, Alexander, Success, La Bonne Citoyenne, and El Corso, for Le Genereux taken circa 18 Feb 1800, is due to be paid by Navy and Prize Agency, Messrs Mottley and Grout, at Barnard's Inn, Portsmouth. Whilst the London Gazette seems to concentrate mainly on the London Agents, and far less often on other agents based in the home ports, I thought the fact that this agent was advertising his wares, including making loans, and also where and when he was paying out prize and salvage monies &c. might be of some interest.

Circa 4 Aug 1804 the Barfleur, Cumberland, Zealous, Success, Dido, and Serpent are being prepared at Portsmouth for being brought into commission.

Circa 11 Aug 1804 Capt Scott, apptd to the Success, at Portsmouth.

Circa 7 Sep 1804 a young lad, recently arrived from the Marine Society, London, and joined the Success at Portsmouth, was reported to have fallen into the harbour from aloft, and that despite the boats being hoisted out the poor lad was not seen after he fell into the water.

8 Sep 1804 departed Portsmouth harbour for Spithead.

15 Sep 1804 the Success replaced the Chichester as a guard ship down at St Helen's.

24 Oct 1804 arrived Spithead, the Success, Capt Scott, from St Helen's.

Circa 27 Oct 1804 the Success has made a signal at Spithead for a convoy to the Coast of Africa.

9 Nov 1804 departed Spithead with a convoy for the Coast of Africa.

17 Nov 1804 earlier in the week must have got mixed up with another convoy and returned to Spithead due to bad weather : and has now departed Spithead again with a convoy for the Coast of Africa.

May 1805 Coast of Africa.

20 Nov 1806 ship's boats capture the French privateer Vengeur on the Jamaica station.

24 Dec 1807 occupation of the island of Madeira.

30 Jul 1809 destroyed 2 French privateers, names unknown, on the Mediterranean station.

4 Apr 1810 Success and Espoir, while running along the coat of Calabria, despatched the ships' boats on an operation, the results of which can best be summarised in the words of William James : "spiked the two 6-pounders, and destroyed their carriages ; and, having set fire to two laden vessels already stove, and recovered their three swamped boats."

25 Apr 1810 Spartan, Success and Espoir, being off Monte Circello, whilst the ship's bombarded the shore batteries the ships' boats cut out one ship and three barks.

Deal 21 Sep 1812 Came down from the River.

Plymouth 29 Sep 1812 departed from Cawsand Bay for Corunna with troops.

Portsmouth 2 Dec 1812 departed on a cruise.

Deal 8 Dec 1812 departed with transports with French prisoners onboard for Leith.

Yarmouth 25 Dec 1812 arrived with prisoners, for Leith.

12 Jul 1813, Narcissus arrived Halifax, with the Success, from the Chesapeake, the latter with 2 Companies of Independent Foreigners on board.

14 Sep 1813, Success, Capt. Barclay, arrived Halifax, with the squadron from the Chesapeake.

1-2 Oct 1813 the Nemesis departed with the Fox, and Success, from Halifax, for Quebec, with the 2nd Battalion of Royal Marines.

1813 Prison hulk, Halifax, NS.

4 March 1815, I know it is nice to be able to pigeon hole-ships, and how they were used etc., but in the newspaper Acadian Recorder, it is noted that the Success is described as the Guard Ship at Halifax, NS, by the Recorder, so would suggest that the vessel is probably the centre for naval administration at Halifax in the absence of the Flag Officer, ie for much of the winter months, when the flag officer disappears off to Bermuda, due to the climate, and would also probably be the receiving ship for the port, as well as being a prison hulk, much like many other hulks in other colonial ports during the 19th Century i.e. they were often given various titles, but at the end of the day they often provided a multitude of services, sometimes possibly also being the local sick quarters, when there wasn't one ashore, and if they had a surgeon on the books.