Anson, 1781
Type: 5th rate ; late 3rd rate ; Armament 44 (Reduced in 1794 from a 64 Gun Ship)
Launched at Plymouth : 1781 ; Disposal date or year : 29 Dec 1807
Disposal Details : Wrecked on a sand-bank off Eelstone, Mount's bay, crew, except 60, saved. Capt. Charles Lydiard.
Complement: 327
Notes:

1782 Rodney's victory over French under Comte de Grasse

† 1794 Anson, Indefatigable, and Magnanime, cut down from 64s, retaining their 26 long 24s on their main deck, and fitted with 12 long 12-pounders and six 42-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck and forecastle ; with a complement at first of 310, but afterwards of 330 men..

25 Jun 1795, with the squadron at the landing of the [ill-conceived] Royalist expedition to Quiberon Bay, under Commodore Sir J B Warren, which returned to England in December with the remnants.

20 Mar 1796 the Bec du Raz bearing; north by east distant four miles, a squadron composed of frigates Anson, Captain Philip Charles Durham, Pomone, Captain Sir John Borlase Warren (in command), Artois, and Galatea, engaged a French squadron with a convoy, during which the Etoile store-ship struck her colours, and 4 vessels were taken from the convoy and left in the care of the lugger Valiant.

22 - 23 Aug 1796 whilst cruising off the mouth of the river Gironde the squadron of frigates consisting of the Pomone, Anson, Captain Philip Charles Durham, Artois, Galatea, and 18-gun Brig-sloop Sylph sighted the French frigate Andromaque, which was chased by the Galatea for many hours, until the Andromaque was eventually run ashore in heavy surf, and the job of destroying her by gun and fire being completed by the Sylph.

16-17 Jul 1797 with a squadron which destroyed the French frigate Calliope and captured or destroyed a number of her convoy.

25 July 1797 a squadron consisting of the Pomone, Anson, Artois, Triton, Sylph, and Dolly captured the Ship Boston.

19 Oct 1797 Anson and Boadicea captured the French privateer Zephyr in the Channel.

17 Nov 1797 Anson and Boadicea captured the French privateer Railleur in the Channel.

29 Dec 1797 re-captured the French ship-corvette Daphne, late British 20-gun ; or, as Captain Durham, imitating the French, describes a ship of only 429 tons, " late his majesty's frigate Daphne, mounting 30 guns." Nice to see Mr James had a good sense of humour ;-)

8 Feb 1798 captured the French privateer Jason in the Channel.

22 Mar 1798 Canada, Anson, and Phaëton chase the French frigate Charente, which escaped capture.

31 Aug 1798 Anson and Phaeton captured the French privateer Mercure near Bourdeaux.

7 Sep 1798 Phaëton and Anson chased and captured the French privateer, late national 32-gun frigate Flore.

20 Sep 1798 Joined the Ethalion, Sylph and Amelia watching the French Squadron from Brest, sailing for Ireland with troops.

11-12 Oct 1798 signal for a general chase made by the Commodore. Commodore Warren's action with French squadron, and capture of the Hoche, 74, and frigates: Embuscade, Coquille, Bellone. And taking of the Résolue by the Melampus. See also p. 71-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1928-1.pdf.

18 Oct 1798 Anson and Kangaroo capture the Loire. Subsequently purchased into the service.

1 Jan 1799, Capt. P. C. Durham. Refitting at Plymouth.

22 Jan 1799, Plymouth, went out of harbour.

26 Jan 1799, Plymouth, sailed with the Ethalion, on a cruize off Bourdeaux.

2 Feb 1799, at Sea, captured (in company with the Ethalion) Le Boulonnois, French cutter privateer, of 14 guns, and 70 men, belonging to Dunkirk, a remarkable fine vessel, copper-bottomed. The capture of her gives me great satisfaction, as she has greatly annoyed the trade in the North Seas. I have the &c. P. C. Durham. It is understood that the Bayonnaise cutter was late Swan revenue vessel.

25 Feb 1799, Plymouth, sailed for Spithead with the Phoenix.

19 Mar 1799, at Spithead.

7 Apr 1799, Portsmouth, sailed on a cruize in the Channel, but put back on the 9th to St, Helen's, owing to strong contrary winds and sailed on the 13th with a fine breeze from the eastward.

14 Jun 1799 Plymouth arrived from Gibraltar, with dispatches for Government.

19 Jun 1799 in the Plymouth Sound.

15 Oct 1799 Portsmouth arrived with the Cormorant, 20, from Weymouth, where they had been attending their Majesties. Lady Charlotte Durham came in the Anson.

7 Jan 1800, Plymouth, arrived the French sloop La Francois, bound to Brest with brandy, prize to the Anson,

26 Jan 1800, Plymouth, arrived 2 brigs with wines and brandies, prizes to the Anson.

12 Feb 1800, Plymouth, went up the harbour.

2 Mar 1800, Portsmouth, arrived the Anson, 44, Captain Durham ; and the San Fiorenzo.

17 Mar 1800, Portsmouth, sailed with the East Indiamen under convoy ; accompanied with the Porpoise, 12, Captain Scott, for Botany Bay, and the Lady Nelson, Captain Barrow, an ordnance store ship, for Gibraltar. She is bound to New South Wales, for the purpose of surveying the coast, and making discoveries.

17 Mar 1800 chased the British sloop Danae, captured by mutineers amongst her crew and surrendered to the French at Brest.

21 Mar 1800, Plymouth, passed by to the westward, the Anson, with the East India and Botany Bay convoys.

22 Apr 1800, Plymouth, arrived the Catharine and Anna, from Batavia to Hamburgh, with coffee, detained in latitude 30 degrees the 10th inst., by the Anson ; at which period the Anson and the outward bound East India fleet were all well.

27 Apr 1800 captured the brig Le Vainqueur letter of marque, mounting only 4 guns, bound from Bourdeaux to St. Domingo, with a mixed cargo.

29 Apr 1800 captured the French privateer Hardi, 18 guns, 194 men, in the Channel. Also reports having sent in, for adjudication, a ship bound from Batavia to Hamburgh, with the Governor of Batavia on board.

4 May 1800, Plymouth, arrived La Vaingeur letter of marque, prize to the Anson. When she left the Anson, she was firing at a French frigate, of 36 guns, and full of men. The Anson has on board 1,000 letters from the outward bound East India fleet, which she saw as far as lat. 30, all well.

9 May 1800, Plymouth, arrived the Anson, from convoying out the East India fleet.

10 May 1800, Plymouth, sailed for Portsmouth with her prisoners. On the 30th ult. in the morning, she fell in with four armed vessels, which by the subsequent capture of L'Hardi, proved to be La Brave, 36, and 300 men ; La Decide, 18 guns, and 194 men ; La Guippe, 18 guns, and 194 men ; and L'Hardi, 18 guns, and 194 men. She gave them chace, and nearing La Brave, gave her a broadside, which not bringing down any thing, with La Decide and La Guieppe she escaped by superior sailing, gaining on the Anson hand over hand one mile and an half in two hours. The Anson then hauled her wind, and bore up for L'Hardi, which soon struck. She arrived this morning, is a beautiful vessel, quite new, her first cruise, and only thirty-three days off the stocks; the above little squadron only out from Bourdeaux four days. The marines on the quarter deck of La Brave were all clothed in regimentals by way of deception.

6 Jun 1800, Portsmouth, sailed with a fleet of store ships and victuallers for the Mediterranean.

20 Jun 1800, Plymouth, it appears that La Braave French privateer, of 36 guns, lost two men killed when fired into by the Anson.

25 Jun 1800 captured on the Mediterranean station the American Brig Hind, laden with sugar, from Salem bound to Cadiz.

27 Jun 1800, off Gibraltar, discovered a Spanish convoy of 40 to 50 vessels, bound from Malaga to Cadiz, who, on our approach they got under the batteries, where they were covered by twenty-five gun-boats, who, together with the forts, very much annoyed the Anson ; notwithstanding, with the assistance of two Gibraltar row-boats, sent by the Constance, captured eight, one of which was re-taken.

29 Jun 1800, in company with the Constance, captured the Spanish privateers El Severo, 10 swivels, 26 men, and Gibraltar, 4 guns, 50 men, on the Mediterranean station.

30 Jun 1800 have cut off 2 Spanish gun boats (the Gibraltar, and Salvador) who have been annoying the convoy ; they mount two eighteen pounders in the bow, and eight guns of different dimensions, and are manned by 60 men.

16 Jul 1800, Plymouth, arrived from sea, the Alert, from Cadiz to Boston, detained by the Anson, which was gone on to Gibraltar, all well, the 8th inst.

7 (sic) Sep 1800, Plymouth, sailed to join the squadron off Weymouth.

9 (sic) Sep 1800, Portsmouth, arrived the Anson, from Gibraltar.

8 Nov 1800, Portsmouth, arrived with the Constitution, 14, from a cruise.

17 Nov 1800, Portsmouth, sailed on a cruise.

22 Nov 1800, Portsmouth, arrived from a cruise off Havre.

15 Oct 1803 captured the French privateer Marguerite in the Mediterranean.

May 1805 Mediterranean.

28 May 1805 It is reported that two Spanish prizes, one from Vera Cruz, and the other from the River Plata, have been taken.

15 Sep 1806 engaged the French Foudroyant, 80, under jury rig, off Havana, however she was still able to look after herself and withdrew.

23 Aug 1806 Arethusa and Anson capture the Spanish 34-gun frigate Pomona, and destroy a number of gun boats. The Pomona was taken into the Service as the Cuba.

1 Jan 1807 the frigates Arethusa, Anson, Fisgard, and Latona capture of the island of Curacoa.

Circa Mar 1809 the account for the small balance remaining following the capture of the ship Boston in 1797 will be deposited in the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty.