The ''Liverpool'' was a British

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

that operated during the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

. She made four cruises from June 1757 to March 1759, and took more than a dozen prizes in an 18 month career. She was described as ‘one of the finest privateers belonging to the period’.

Description

''Liverpool'' was a

ship-rigged A full-rigged ship or fully rigged ship is a sailing vessel's sail plan with three or more masts, all of them square-rigged. A full-rigged ship is said to have a ship rig or be ship-rigged. Such vessels also have each mast stepped in three s ...

merchant ship from the city of

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

which was outfitted as a privateer in the spring of 1757, after the outbreak of war between the Britain and France. she was outfitted by a Mr. Hardwar and was captained by William Hutchinson, an associate of Mersey privateer

Fortunatus Wright Fortunatus Wright (c.1712–1757) was a British merchant and privateer, notable for his activities in the Mediterranean Sea during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. Early life Wright was apparently a native of Wallas ...

. ''Liverpool'' was outfitted with 22 guns, 18 of them 12-pounders. She was described as 'the ship ''Liverpool'', of 250 tons burthen, a remarkably fast vessel'.Williams p.135

Career

''Liverpool's'' first cruise began on 10 June 1757, and ranged across the South-Western Approaches and the coast of France. It continued until 24 November 1757, during which time she took ten prizes, including the ''Grand Marquis de Tournay'', valued at £20,000 (). Her second cruise, from January to August 1758, ranged along the coast of France and into the Mediterranean, during which she took another seven prizes. The third cruise, under Capt. John Ward, Hutchinson's lieutenant and a relative, was planned for September 1758 but failed when many of her crew absented themselves before departure. The fourth cruise began on 15 October with a new crew, and once more under the command of Capt. Hutchinson. This time was less successful, and after taking some Dutch vessels off the coast of Ireland she returned to port on 1 March 1759, though still equipped for further operations.Williams p.134-5

Fate

On 12 April 1759 ''Liverpool'' was sold at auction at the Merchants

Coffee-house A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-caf ...

Notes

References

* G Williams (2004: first published 1897) ''History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque'' . Liverpool University Press. {{ISBN, 0-85323-789-1. 18th-century ships