Wolverine, 1798
Type: Brig-sloop ; Armament 13 (2 x long 18 pdr ; 6 x 24 pdr carronades ; 5 x 12 pdr carronades
Purchased : 1798 ;
Disposal date or year : 24 Mar 1804
Disposal Details : captured, 24 Mar by the large French privateer Blonde, on passage to Newfoundland. Captain Henry Gordon. It is observed in the English newspapers that even in the French newspapers there was no French exultation at the English vessel being superior or even equal in force!
BM: 286 tons
Notes:

14-20 May 1798 Involved in expedition to Ostende, supporting the army.

3 Jan 1799 departed from the Downs.

4 Jan 1799 in furious hand to hand combat off Boulogne, with 2 French privateers.

19 Mar 1799 at Portsmouth, in harbour fitting.

23 Apr 1799 in company with the Arrow, and the Kent Hired Cutter captured Blenie Rosetta.

29 May 1799 in company with the Arrow, and the Kent Hired Cutter captured Active and Providence.

28 Jun 1799 in company with the Arrow, and the Kent Hired Cutter captured Five Fishing Boats.

13 Jul 1799 in company with the Arrow, and the Kent Hired Cutter captured Altona.

16 Jul 1799 in company with the Arrow, and the Kent Hired Cutter captured Antony Wilhelm.

29 Jul 1799 in company with the Arrow, and the Kent Hired Cutter captured Nancy.

9-12 Sep 1799 following receipt of intelligence the Arrow, in company with the Wolverine, sought out, destroyed the sheer-hulk Draak and captured the brig Gier, which was purchased into the service.

20 Jun 1800 Portsmouth, arrived the Wolverine, Captain Raigerfield, from Guernsey.

Circa 30 Jun 1800 Captain Wright is appointed to the command of his Majesty's ship Wolverene.

22 Jul 1800 Portsmouth, departed for Marcou (off Cape la Hogue).

Circa 1 Aug 1800 Mr. Fisher, of the Rowcliffe aimed brig, is promoted to a surgeon, and appointed to the Wolverine, on the Marcou station.

10 Aug 1800 Portsmouth, arrived the Catherine, from Bourdeaux, with wine, prize to the Wolverine.

23 Aug 1800 the Wolverene, in company with Sparkler, Lt Stephens ; and the Force, Lt Tokeley, gun-brigs, having been informed that 2 large sloops were attempting escape from the mouth of the River Isigny, and proceed along shore to the eastward, gave chase, and the enemy finding themselves hard pressed ran themselves on shore in the Bay of Grand Camp, the entrance to which was covered by fire from heavy guns ashore, which were attacked by the small squadron for an hour, whilst men from the ships' boats boarded the largest vessel, under heavy fire from ashore, and set her on fire &c. ; the other vessel being badly damaged by gun fire. 3 casualties were suffered by burns received from exploding gunpowder on board the sloop.

17 Sep 1800 Portsmouth, arrived from a cruise with the Neptunus, laden with naval stores, which he captured going into Havre de Grace.

26 Sep 1800 Portsmouth, departed on a cruise off Havre.

2 Nov 1800 Cape Barfleur Light-house W.N.W. about 4 miles, the sloop Wolverine discovered a French cutter under the land and on closing her, she ran on shore inside a reef of rocks under the village of Gouberville, and a battery, with the sloop�s shot going over her. She appeared to strike very hard, as there was a great sea running, and with a fresh gale coming in the evening, she must inevitably be rendered useless.

2 Nov 1800 Portsmouth, arrived from a cruise.

27 Nov 1800 Portsmouth, arrived from a cruise.

13 Jan 1801 departed Spithead with the Active and Loire, to cruise off Havre.

15 Mar 1801 arrived Spithead from a cruise on the French Coast.

23 May 1801 arrived Spithead from a cruise off Havre.

30 May 1801 Spithead on a cruise off Havre.

7 Jun 1801 led in an attack, with the Loire, who was unable to follow due to lack of water, on some 15 small vessels, including 10 small luggers, each armed with 1 gun ; 1 large lugger, with 16 guns ; four gun brigs of 12 guns ; and three mortars, &c., making a total of 3 mortars, 96 pieces of cannon, and 685 men. The Wolverine armed with 12 guns, and 70 men, stood in and engaged the whole line for half an hour, amongst a shower of shot and shell, and were surprised at the end to find that no one was hurt, nor a rope or sail cut, and receive 3 cheers from the crew of the Loire on returning to sea. The operation was carried again a day or so later, when the French were forced to withdraw into Havre. Captain Newman of the Loire wrote to the Admiralty describing the affair, and the need for more suitable vessels than the frigate to be involved, so that they could go closer in shore.

18 Jun 1801 arrived Spithead with the Trent and Argo, from a cruise off Havre.

27 Jun 1801 departed Spithead with the Carysfort and Argo, for Cowes to take troops on board.

10 Aug 1801 off Havre, where an officer makes the following observations : the Seahorse, Capt Foote, and San Fiorenzo, Capt Pattison, arrived from Portsmouth. The Wolverine, Capt Wight, arrived Havre from off Cherbourg, where 17 gun vessels and a large bomb were at single anchor in the Roads ; similarly it is reported at Marcou, that a convoy of 10-12 vessels were at anchor in La Hogue.

10 Sep 1801 arrived Spithead from the squadron off Havre.

11 Sep 1801 arrived Spithead the American ship Lucy, Toppen, from Newberry port, with coffee, etc., detained off Havre de Grace by the Wolverine.

7 Oct 1801 departed Spithead for Marcou.

11 Oct 1801 arrived Spithead from Marcou, with 2 smuggling cutters, captured off the coast of Sussex.

17 Oct 1801 arrived Spithead.

25 Oct 1801 departed Spithead for Marcou.

29 Oct 1801 arrived Spithead from Guernsey.

5 Nov 1801 departed Spithead for Jersey.

11 Nov 1801 arrived Spithead, the Wolverine, Capt White, from Marcou, the Channel Isles, and a cruise off the French Coast.

4 Jan 1802 remains at Spithead, Lt Wight / White.

9 Mar 1802 the Wolverine departed Spithead to provide assistance to the Childers, reported to be ashore at the Needles.

11 Mar 1802 arrived Spithead, the Childers, Captain Crawford, in the company of the Wolverine, having been ashore on the Warren, but not receiving any material damage.

24 Mar 1802 departed Spithead on a cruise after smugglers.

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

17 Nov-30 Dec 1802 prize money resulting from the expedition to Holland due for payment.

20 Jan 1803 prize money resulting from the capture of the Blenie Rosetta, Active and Providence, Five Fishing Boats, Altona, Antony Wilhelm and the Nancy due for payment.

Circa 31 Oct 1803 Capt H Gordon apptd to the Wolverine, at Portsmouth.

Circa 7 Nov 1803 Capt H Gordon has commissioned the Wolverine, at Portsmouth.

2 Dec 1803 went out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead.

8 Dec 1803 departed Spithead for Guernsey.

26 Dec 1803 arrived Spithead from Plymouth.

21 Jan 1804 dropped down to St Helen's from Spithead.

29 Jan 1804 departed Spithead on a cruise.

4 Feb 1804 arrived Spithead the Wolverine, Capt Gordon, from a cruise.

9 Feb 1804 dropped down from Spithead to St Helen's the Leviathan, Capt Bayntun ; the Montague, Capt Otway ; and the Wolverine, Capt Gordon.

12 Feb 1804 departed Spithead for Plymouth with a small convoy to join the West India convoy, the Wolverine.

24 Feb 1804 arrived Spithead, from Plymouth, the Wolverine, Capt Gordon, and the storeship Abundance W Price, Master.

1 Mar 1804 dropt down to St Helen's, the Wolverine.

Circa 10 Mar 1804 the Wolverine, is apptd convoy for Newfoundland.

11 Mar 1804 departed Spithead with a convoy for Newfoundland.

24 Mar 1804 captured by a large French frigate-privateer Blonde, but sank within 15 minutes of the crew being taken off.

Circa 12 Oct 1804 Capt Gordon of the Wolverine and several masters of merchant ships have escaped from France over the Pyrenean Mountains into Spain.