History | |
---|---|
Great Britain | |
Name | HMS Polecat |
Namesake | Polecat |
Acquired | 1782 by purchase |
Captured | 1782 |
General characteristics | |
Tons burthen | 100[1] (bm) |
Propulsion | Sails |
Armament |
|
HMS Polecat was the Pennsylvania privateer Navarro, Captain William Keeler, which HMS Orpheus captured in March 1782.[1] Between her commissioning on 18 July 1781 under Captain Woolman Sutton and her capture, Navarro captured two British vessels and recaptured one American vessel.[1] One vessel that Navarro captured was Rebecca, M'Fadzean, master, which was sailing from Jamaica to London when Navarro captured Rebecca at 44°00′N 26°50′W / 44.000°N 26.833°W, north of the Azores.[2][a]
The Royal Navy purchased Navarre at Boston for £1097 3s 5d and took her into service as the 14-gun brig-sloop HMS Polecat. She was initially under the command of Lieutenant Edmund Nagle,[4] but Lieutenant the Honourable Patrick Napier succeeded him.[5][6] Two French frigates chased her off the coast of Virginia on 31 July 1782; Émeraude effected the actual capture.[7] Polecat was taken into York River, Virginia about 13 August.[1] Her subsequent disposition is unknown.[8]