Amethyst, 1799
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 36 (18-pounder)
Launched at Deptford: 1799 ; Disposal date or year : 16 Feb 1811
Disposal Details : In a gale, was driven from Plymouth Sound on to a shoal near Mount Batten. Those whose bodies were washed up in the area are said to have been buried in Plympstock Churchyard. Captain Jacob Walton.
Complement : 261
BM : 1046 tons
Dimensions : depth in hold 13’ 8”, length on the lower deck 150’ ; of the keel 141’ ; breadth extreme 39’ 6”.
Notes:

1 Jan 1799, building in the King's Dock Yard at Deptford.

22 Apr 1799, at a quarter before four o'clock, was launched from the Deptford Yard, of 36 guns.

Aug-Oct 1799 employed on expedition to Holland.

30 Nov 1799 Plymouth, sailed, on a cruise.

29 Dec 1799, in Lat. 46° 44', Long. 4° W., captured the French privateer brig L'Avanture, 14 guns, and 75 men, belonging to L'Orient.

7 Jan 1800, Plymouth, arrived L'Huzelle French armed vessel from Cayenne, with passengers, ladies and children, prize to the Beaulieu, 44. She was captured by the Amethyst, 32 guns. Capt. Cook ; recaptured by La Providence privateer, of 24 guns and 150 men ; sent for Bourdeaux, and again taken and sent here by the Beaulieu and Unicorn. There came passengers Colonel Malonson of Invalids, and Mons. Burnelle, naturalist, with a cabinet of natural curiosities for the French National Museum at Paris. They were in want of necessaries; and one child of 5 years old died in the Sound. M. P. Symonds broker for the prize, very humanely, on L'Huzelle's coming-to in Catwater, sent on board plenty of fresh provision.

8 Jan 1800, Plymouth, arrived L'Aventure French privateer, of 14 guns and 75 men, prize to the Amethyst frigate. She had captured in her late cruise four vessels.

26 Jan 1800, Plymouth, arrived an American, recaptured by the Amethyst.

15 Feb 1800 after a long chase, in company with the Nymphe, captured the French privateer cutter Valliant, 15 guns, 131 men, of Bourdeaux, in the Channel.

20 Feb 1800, Plymouth, arrived a most beautiful cutter, of 16 guns, 120 tons, and 100 men, called Le Valiant, prize to the Amethyst, and Nymphe.

24 Feb 1800 in company with the Nymphe, captured the French letter of marque La Modeste, pierced for 16 guns, with 70 men, about 600 tons burthen, and laden with cotton, coffee, tea, sugar, indigo, &c. bound from the Isle of France to Bourdeaux, off which port she was taken.

9 Mar 1800, Plymouth, letters from the Amethyst, dated at sea, state that she had recaptured a very valuable American ship, and sent her for Falmouth.

15 Mar 1800, Plymouth, arrived the Amethyst, from a cruise.

31 Mar-1 Apr 1800 captured last night the French privateer ship Mars, 20 guns, and 180 men in the Channel.

6 Apr 1800, Plymouth, arrived the privateer Mars, taken after a long chase by the Amethyst frigate.

13 Apr 1800, Plymouth, arrived with the Railleur, from a cruise.

2 Jun 1800, Plymouth, sailed with the Neptune, 98, Amelia 44, Shannon 32, and Bourdelais, on a cruise.

3 Jun 1800 joined the Impetueux, at Quiberon bay and the Morbihan to aid the royalists.

26 Jul 1800 ship's boats capture of the French frigate Cerbère from Port-Louis harbour.

29-30 Aug 1800 ship's boats of the London, Renown, Impétueux, Courageux, Amethyst, Stag, Amelia, Brilliant, and Cynthia capture the French ship-privateer Guépe. See also p. 238, of Vol 4 of Naval Chronicle.

9 Oct 1800, Plymouth, arrived from the secret expedition the Amethyst, 38, she and La Nymphe will receive their prize-money for a French East Indiaman.

13 Oct 1800, Plymouth, went into Barnpool.

17 Oct 1800, Plymouth, this day prize-money to a large amount was paid to the crews of the Amethyst, and Nymphe.

14 Dec 1800, Plymouth, came in from a cruize with the Thames, 32.

26-28 Jan 1801 chase and capture of the French 36-gun frigate Dédaigneuse, afterwards added to the British navy under the same name.

16 Mar 1801 destroyed the Spanish privateer Nostra Signora del Carmen, schooner, 6 guns, 65 men, on the coast of France.

May 1805 Cruising off the Texel.

Circa 23 Dec 1805 the squadron under V.-adm Duckworth lifted the blockade of Cadiz and sailed for between Madeira / Canary isles, where it was reported a French Squadron had molested one and chased another convoy. The French squadron was sighted on 25 Dec and chased, but after 30 hours was discontinued : the Amethyst was despatched to England to inform the authorities of the breakout.

15 May 1807 captured the French privateer Josephine on the Home station.

12 Feb 1808 Is reported to have sighted the two French frigates, from St. Maloes, and full of troops, which she followed for two days.

10-11 Nov 1808 captured the French 40-gun frigate Thétis, which was subsequently purchased into the Service as the Brune.

19 Dec 1808 Reports of the capture of the Thetis are arriving from France, where it is reported that she was taken by a line of battle ship, with two frigates in sight.

Plymouth 16 Jan 1809 Has anchored in the Sound, having completed repairs undertaken in Hamoaze.

23 Feb 1809 Amethyst observes M. Willaumez's French squadron abreast of the Tour de Baleine and signalled Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron, consisting of the Cæsar, Defiance, and Donegal, who went in chase of the French, and watched them entering Basque road on the 24th and despatched the frigate Naïad to inform Lord Gambia.

24 Feb 1809 Naïad observed 3 suspicious sail coming down from the northward and signalled Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron accordingly : leaving the Amethyst and Emerald to watch Basque road, the squadron sailed in search of the approaching vessels.

28 Jul 1809 a part of a large fleet which sailed from the Downs, with troops, with the aim of demolishing the dock-yards, and arsenals at Antwerp, Terneuse, and Flushing, often known as the ill-fated Walcheren Expedition. 11 Aug a part of a squadron of frigates to sound and buoy the Baerlandt channel.

5-6 Apr 1809 Amethyst chased and captured the French 40-gun frigate Niemen, with the assistance of the Emerald. The Niemen became a great acquisition to the British navy under her French name.

Plymouth Jan 12 1811 Arrived the French brig Le Theodore, of Bourdeaux, captured by the Amethyst,

Plymouth Feb 3 1811 Came in from Basque Roads.

21 Feb 1811 It is reported that a boat from the transport "James," going to the aid of the crew of the Amethyst sank with all hands, including Captain Bruce.