HMS ''Lacedemonian'' (or ''Lacedaemonian'') was the French brig ''Lacédémonienne'', launched in 1793, that the British captured in 1796 near Barbados. She was at the capture of

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindian ...

in May of the next year, but the French re-captured her a year after that.

Capture

and captured ''Lacedemonian'' on 9 March 1796 to the windward of Barbados. She was described as a privateer brig of 14 guns and 90 men. The British took her into service and commissioned her in May under the command of the newly promoted Commander

George Sayer George Sydney Benedict Sayer (1 June 1914 – 20 October 2005) was a teacher at Malvern College, trustee of the Lewis estate and probably best known for his biography of the author C. S. Lewis.

Service

She was part of the expeditionary force under Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby and Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh C. Christian at the capture of the island of

in May 1796. Commander Thomas Boys replaced Sayer and he sailed ''Lacedemonian'' to Martinique. Boys received promotion to post-captain on 3 July 1796.''The Gentleman's magazine'' (1833), Vol. 103, Part 1, p.177. His replacement was Commander Thomas Harvey. In October ''Lacedemonian'' was in company with sailing between Martinique and Dominica when they separated during a dark, wet night on 26 October. ''Berbice'' wrecked on Scotsman's Head, Dominica. Shortly thereafter Harvey transferred to . Commander Matthew Wrench took command on 27 March 1797.

Fate

''Lacedemonian'' was under Wrench's command when the French captured her on 6 April 1797. She was patrolling near Point Salines, Grenada, when she encountered a sloop. ''Lacedemonian'' gave chase for much of the day, when towards late afternoon another sloop appeared and started to chase ''Lacedomonian'', while firing some random shots from long range. ''Lacedemonium'' gave up her chase and turned her attention towards her pursuer. Eventually, the newcomer caught up and Wrench stopped, with his crew at quarters. The newcomer did not display a flag but replied to queries in English. ''Lacedemonian''s crew relaxed, so when the newcomer sent over a boat with armed men, and ran into ''Lacedemonian'', they were taken by surprise. Wrench tried to organize resistance but the attackers knocked him down and took over the brig. The subsequent court martial ordered a severe reprimand for Wrench for having allowed himself to be caught unprepared.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lacedemonion (1796) 1794 ships Brigs of the Royal Navy Captured ships Privateer ships of France