| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Mignonne |
| Builder: | Cherbourg |
| Laid down: | 1794 |
| Launched: | 15 October 1795 |
| Captured: | June 1803 |
| Career (UK) | |
| Name: | HMS Mignonne |
| Acquired: | by capture June 1803 |
| Fate: | Ran aground, December 1804 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Corvette |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: | 16-18 x 9-pounder guns |
Mignonne (French: "dainty"[1]) was a 16-gun corvette of the Etna class in the French Navy. She served until 1803 when the British captured her. There is no record of her being commissioned into the Royal Navy; she grounded and was condemned in 1804.
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Mignonne was built in Cherbourg from 1794 to 1797, launched on 15 October 1795, and took part in the Caribbean campaign led by Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse in 1803. She participated in the capture of Fort Graville in February.
In 28 June 1803, as she sailed with the frigate Poursuivante, she encountered a British convoy off San Domingo. One of the escorts, HMS Goliath, was sailing inshore off Cape Nicholas Mole, to try to find two vessels seen earlier. She encountered, and after a few shots captured, Mignonne.[2] In Captain Brisbane's words, she was a "remarkable fast sailing Ship Corvette,". She carried sixteen long 18-pounder guns, six of which she had landed.[Note 1] Her crew of only 80 men was under the command of Monsieur Jean P. Bargeaud, Capitaine de Fregate, and she was two days out of Aux-Cayes, sailing to France via the Cape.[2]
She was added to the Royal Navy as the 18-gun ship sloop HMS Mignonne, but not commissioned.[4] Her captain was Commander Edward Hawker.[Note 2]
In June 1804 Mignonne ran ashore off Lucca, Jamaica. Desiree was towing her to Port Royal when on 9 July at 0100 hours a bolt of lightning struck Mignonne, killing three seamen, injuring five (or nine), and causing some damage to the ship.[5][6] Hawker reported that the bolt shattered the topmast and split the mainmast to the keelson.[7]
On 13 October Mignonne captured the French brig St. Antonio y les Animas, which was in ballast.[8]
In December 1804 Mignonne was laid in the mud at Port Royal, Jamaica.[9] She was then condemned.[4]