Surprise, 1796
Type: Frigate ; Armament 24 (24 x 32 pdr carronades ; 8 x 18 pdr carronades ; 2 - 4 x long sixes on the q'deck & f'castle]
Taken from the French 20 Apr 1796. Late L'Unite ;
Disposal date or year : 1802
BM: 579 tons
Complement: 197 men & boys
Notes:

April 1796 Inconstant captured the French corvette Unit�, subsequently purchased into the RN as the frigate Surprise.

1 Jan 1799 Capt. E. Hamilton. On the Jamaica station.

Between Jun 1798 and Feb 1799 Surprise and Amaranthe captured the French privateer Petite Francaise on the Jamaica station.

Between Jun 1798 and Feb 1799 captured the French privateer Laurette on the Jamaica station.

12 Feb -30 Mar 1799 captured the French schooner privateer Le Lione, 5 guns (pierced for 10) and 60 men, and 6 merchant vessels whilst on the Jamaica station.

22 Jul � 27 Oct 1799 the Surprise captured 4 privateers : 2 of 4 guns, another of 2 guns, another of 1 gun and 11 merchant vessels.

Sep - 24-25 Oct 1799 the former British frigate Hermione, 34, captured by being cut out of Puerto-Caballo, by the boats of the Surprise.

4 Oct 1799 the Surprise captured the French schooner Nancy, of 9 men, and 25 tons, from Aux Cayes, bound to Curacoa, laden with coffee, taken near Cape de Ia Veila.

15 Oct 1799 the Surprise captured the Dutch Schooner, Lame Duck, of 10 guns, and 80 tons, from Aux Cayes, laden with sundries, cut out from the harbour of Aruba.

20 Oct 1799 the Surprise captured the Spanish schooner La Manuel, of 6 men, and 10 tons, from Aux Cayes laden with plantain, destroyed near Porto Cavallo.

25 Oct 1799 the Surprise captured Spanish frigate Hermione, of 44 guns, 392 men, and 717 tons, from Aux Cayes, cut out from Porto Cavallo.

11 Nov 1800 at Jamaica the Surprise, Capt Laroche, when the packet Lady Hobart arrived.

19 Dec 1800 a Jamaica newspaper reports that that Surprise accompanied the America, ship of the line, which went aground on the Formigas shoal, and was refloated and taken into Port Royal Jamaica.

29 Jan 1801 the packet Princess Amelia arrived Port Royal, Jamaica, from Martinique and whilst there the Surprise, Le Decade, Tisiphone, and Swallow arrived from their cruises, and the Melampus with two Spanish prizes.

19 Feb 1801 the Surprize departed Jamaica with the Prompte and a convoy for England.

12 May 1801 arrived Spithead with a convoy from Jamaica, the Prompte saw 17 sail safe up Bristol Channel, the remainder went past for the Downs, under convoy of the Surprise frigate, Captain Laroche. had been detached

13 May 1801 arrived in the Downs with the homeward bound Jamaica convoy.

26 Jul 1801 was taken out of dock at Sheerness.

Circa 10 Aug 1801 Capt Rd Oswald apptd to take command of the Surprize.

22 Aug 1801 a Court Martial was held on board the Surprize, in Sheerness harbour, to try Lieutenant John Dixon, Commander of his Majesty's hospital ship Union, on a charge of suffering liquor to be sold in the ship, after he had been repeatedly informed of it, and had not taken proper steps to prevent it. After the witnesses had been examined for the prosecution, which took up a considerable time, the prisoner's defence been read, and the Court cleared, the Court, after mature deliberation, found that the charge had in part been proved against him, and sentenced him to be dismissed his Majesty's ship Union, and rendered incapable of serving in any of his Majesty's ships again.

22 Aug 1801 a Court Martial was held on board the Surprize, in Sheerness harbour, on T. Williams, a Quarter-Master of his Majesty's guard-ship Zealand, for insolent behaviour to his superior Officer. He was ordered to be dismissed his situation, and to serve before the mast.

29 Aug 1801 departed Sheerness, the Surprise, Capt Owen, this evening, to the Great Nore.

4 Sep 1801 due to be paid today at the Great Nore.

6 Sep 1801 departed Sheerness for N. Yarmouth.

5 Oct 1801 arrived N. Yarmouth the Jonge Jacob, D Mayer, from London, bound to Rotterdam, sent in by the Surprise.

18 Oct 1801 departed N. Yarmouth on a cruise.

10 Nov 1801 departed N. Yarmouth, with the �olus, and hired armed ships Pomona and Prince William, and a gun-brig.

16 Nov 1801 arrived Sheerness, from Yarmouth, having experienced the late heavy gales, and being a weak built French frigate, has sprung a leak, and may need to be taken into dock for repairs.

30 Nov 1801 remains with the Zealand and some 20 other vessels at the Nore.

18 Feb 1802 Surprize, 576 Tons, copper-bottomed and copper-fastened, lying at Deptford put up for Sale.