Naval Database

Hyaena, 1778
Type: 6th rate ; Armament 24
Launched : 1778 ; Disposal date or year : 1802
Displacement: 232 tons (BM) Complement: 120
Notes:

Plymouth 29 Mar 1785 Arrived from Ireland.

Plymouth 20 May 1785 Sailed to the Eastward.

The following account of the meeting between the Hyæna and Concorde is extracted from Captain Schomberg's naval work: " In May, the Hyæna, of 24 guns, and 160 men, commanded by Captain William Hargood, being on a cruise off Hispaniola, fell in with La Concorde, French frigate, of 40 guns and 320 men. After a severe and spirited conflict, in which the Hyæna was dreadfully shattered, her first lieutenant, and many of her crew, killed and wounded, Captain Hargood was obliged to surrender." *

27 May 1793 Follow the link for William James slightly different take on the action.

On the 11th of October, 1793, on board the Cambridge guardship, in Hamoaze, Captain Hargood and his officers were tried by a court-martial, and honourably acquitted; the sentence stating, that " every means had been used to prevent the Hyæna from being captured." In the first edition of this work, it was not mentioned that the Concorde was the advanced ship of a squadron. Two circumstances led to that omission: the neglect of Sir William Hargood to transmit the promised " particulars of the action and cause of the capture of his Majesty's ship Hyæna," and the very imperfect information furnished by a subordinate at a public office, even after he had received from his chief the most positive directions to make a full extract from the official document in his charge.

* Schomberg, vol. ii., p. 257.

1797 Recaptured.