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FLORA (36) 5th rate Built in 1780, Deptford DY.
Wrecked in 1809.

  • 1780 Capt. William Pere WILLIAMS.
    About four in the afternoon, standing in under Ushant in quest of the fleet, with the wind at E. N.E., discovered through the haze a large ship and a cutter, lying to about four miles to leeward. Capt. WILLIAMS made sail and edged towards them. This was seen by the stranger who hauled to the wind and backened her mizzen-top-sail to await the FLORA's approach.
    At ten minutes past five the frigates were within two cables length of each other, and began an engagement which continued with great bravery for an hour, gradually closing; at this time the FLORA's wheel was shot away and her standing and running rigging cut to pieces, she fell on board the enemy, and engaged in this position for fifteen minutes, when the enemy attempted to board her, but were repulsed with considerable lost. The FLORA's people boarded her in return, drove them from their quarters, struck the colours, and took possession of the ship, which proved to be the La NYMPHE, a very fine French frigate, only four years old, and coppered. She was commanded by Chevalier de Romain, who died of his wounds during the same evening. She had 63 killed, including the first and second captains and 73 wounded. FLORA lost nine killed and 27 wounded. La NYMPHE was purchased by the government and added to the Royal Navy under the same name. Lieut. Edward THORNBROUGH was promoted to commander for his gallant conduct.
  • In March 1781 FLORA joined Vice Ad. DARBY's fleet sailing to relieve Gibraltar and then sailed for Port Mahon.
    In March FLORA and CRESCENT, Capt. PACKENHAM, on passage from Minorca had a narrow escape from a Spanish squadron. On the 29th. they fell in with two Dutch ships off the Barbary coast but, since it was blowing a gale, they waited until the following morning before closing with the enemy. After two and a quarter hours FLORA's opponent struck with 22 killed and 41 wounded out of 230. She was the CASTOR (32). A few minutes later an unlucky shot carried away CRESCENT's main and mizzen masts rendering her guns useless. Capt. PACKENHAM was forced to strike to his opponent, the BRILLE (32) before Capt. WILLIAMS was able to drive the enemy ship away. All the ships were badly damaged, particularly CRESCENT and CASTOR, so when two large frigates approached on 19 June he decided that the ships should separate. CASTOR was retaken and later CRESCENT was captured.
  • 1782 Capt. S. MARSHALL, Portsmouth, for foreign service.
  • 1783 Capt. Robert MONTAGUE, Jamaica
  • 1793 Capt. Sir John B. WARREN.
    on 23 April 1794 FLORA, MELAMPUS, NYMPHE, ARETHUSA and CONCORDE were cruising off Guernsey when four French sail were sighted standing out to sea.
    The British ships were able to gain the weather-gage and an action lasting three hours began before two of the enemy, POMONE (44) and BABET (22), struck to FLORA and ARETHUSA.
    ENGAGEANTE (38) was captured by the rest of the squadron.
  • On 22 August the squadron drove the French frigate FELICITE (40), and the corvettes ESPION (18) and ALERT (18) ashore near the Penmark Rocks.
  • 1794 Capt. W. A. OTWAY, 09/1794.
  • 1795 Capt. H. L. BALL, 01/1795.
    Capt. Robert G. MIDDLETON, 12/1795.
    Capt. Alexander WILSON had temporary command before Capt. MIDDLETON re-assumed command.
  • In the summer of 1798 ST VINCENT stationed FLORA and CAROLINE off Madeira to provide protection for the outward bound African and West Indies trade.
    Between 29 July and 4 December they recaptured five merchant vessels, took one French, and captured the French privateer cutter PRESIDENT PARKER (12).
    All these were sent into Madeira.
    The privateer lugger ESPERENCE (1), was sunk by CAROLINE's boats.
  • After a chase of eight hours FLORA captured the Spanish privateer ship CORUNESA (16), off Cape Finisterre on 20 March 1800.
    Six of enemy's guns were hove overboard during the chase.In her 15 day cruise out of Corunna the privateer had capture the brig WILLIAM of Jersey, laden with salt, and a Swedish brig laden with talc, fish and butter.
  • Some 90 miles west of Vigo on 9 April 1800 Capt. MIDDLETON discovered a schooner in the act of boarding two brigs.
    He immediately gave chase and, after five hours, captured the privateer SAN ANTONIO Y ANIMES (alias AURORA), belonging to Vigo, commanded by Don Francisco Ferdanez Ferros. She mounted 10 guns, 3 of which were hove overboard, and had a crew of 55 men.
  • On the night of 22 June 1800 FLORA fell in with,and captured, the Spanish packet ship CORTES, belonging to the King of Spain, commanded by Don Joseph Suaros Quiros with a crew of 44 men.
    Pierced for 14 guns but with only 4 mounted. She had sailed from Rio de la Plata 98 days earlier for Corunna with a cargo of cocoa, hides, tallow and some specie.
    Her mail had been thrown overboard when FLORA was sighted.
    Because she was of such value, Capt. MIDDLETON thought it best to see her safely off the bar at Lisbon to hand her into the care of Capt. COCKBURN of MINERVE in the Tagus.
  • 1803 Out of commission at Portsmouth.


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