The French brig ''Carlotta'' was a

brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the ...

-rigged ''corvetta-cannoniera'' or, ''corvetta-brig'', of 10 guns, launched in 1807 at Venice as ''Fiamma'' that served the

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

as ''Carlotta''. captured her in 1810 and the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

took her into service as HMS ''Carlotta''. She was wrecked in 1812.

Origins

''Carlotta'' followed a design by Andrea Salvini and he probably built her;

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

was reportedly at her launch. In 1810 she was at Goro-Primaro, the southernmost branch of the river Po.

Capture

On 11 December 1810 ''Carlotta'' was sailing from Venice to Corfu when she encountered ''Belle Poule''. ''Carlotta''s captors described her as "La Carlotta Italian brig of war of Ten Guns and One Hundred Men". The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS ''Carlotta'', and Admiral

Edward Pellew Admiral Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, GCB (19 April 1757 – 23 January 1833) was a British naval officer. He fought during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. His younger brother ...

appointed Lieutenant James Oliver to command her. Several British vessels shared in the proceeds of her capture. One prize money notice allocated head-money, ordnance stores, and one fourth of the proceeds of the hull to ''Belle Poule'', hull, stores, and ordnance stores to , and the ordnance stores and one fourth of the proceeds of the hull to . A later notice announced a payment to the officers and crew of .

Fate

On 26 January 1812 a violent gale, together with a strong current, drove ''Carlotta'' onto Cape Passaro, wrecking her. Oliver's exertions in saving a cargo of specie and consequent fatigue aggravated a previous wound, costing him the sight in one eye. Still, in 1813 he was appointed

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...

on .

Notes

Citations

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carlotta (1807) 1807 ships Brigs of the French Navy Captured ships Brigs of the Royal Navy Maritime incidents in 1812