HMS ''Dominica'' was the French privateer schooner ''J(T?)opo L'Oeil'' (aka ''Tape à lOeil'' or ''Tape à lOeuil'' or ''Tap à lOeil'') that the British captured in 1807 in the Leeward Islands. She took part in one inconclusive

single-ship action A single-ship action is a naval engagement fought between two warships of opposing sides, excluding submarine engagements; called so because there is a single ship on each side. The following is a list of notable single-ship actions. Single-shi ...

before she foundered in 1809.

Capture

On 17 October 1807 the British brig encountered the French schooner privateer ''Jopo L'Oeil'' about 120 leagues east of Barbados. The sanguinary engagement between the two vessels lasted an hour and a quarter, with Captain John Buller of ''Superieure'' being killed instantly by a musket ball to the head while attempting to board the privateer early in the fight. Lieutenant John G. Bird took command and continued the fight until the privateer surrendered. She had a crew of 95 men. She was pierced for 14 guns but carried only six 18-pounders plus another one on a traveling carriage. She was 32 days out of

Pointe-à-Pitre Pointe-à-Pitre (; gcf, label=Guadeloupean Creole, Pwentapit, , or simply , ) is the second largest (most populous) city of Guadeloupe after Les Abymes. Guadeloupe is an overseas region and Overseas department, department of France located in the ...

Guadeloupe and had made no captures. Bird described ''Jopo L'Oeil'' as "a remarkable fine Vessel". In the fight the British lost four men killed, including Buller, and eight men wounded; the French lost five killed and 19 wounded. The brig was in sight during the engagement but was unable to close until after the fight was over. The British took the privateer into service as HMS ''Dominica''.

Service

The British commissioned ''Dominica'' under Lieutenant Stephen Burke. At some point in 1807 Lieutenant J. Deane may have taken command. On 3 February 1808 ''Dominica'' had an inconclusive engagement with the French privateer ''Victor'', of 18 guns. In 1809 Lieutenant Charles Welch took command.

Fate

''Dominica'' foundered or capsized in a hurricane off Tortola in August 1809. Accounts differ as to survivors. Hepper reports that she foundered with all hands. Marx and Gosset reports that there were three survivors. The National Maritime Museum database records that there were five survivors.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dominica (1807) Schooners of the Royal Navy Maritime incidents in 1809 Shipwrecks of the British Virgin Islands Privateer ships of France 1800s ships Captured ships