HMS ''Cerf'' was the
Spanish Navy's 18-gun brig ''Cuervo'', built at Havana in 1794-95. A British privateer captured her and her captors renamed her ''Stag'' before in December 1801 selling her to the Captain-General of Guadeloupe. The
French Navy took her into service as the 14-gun brig ''Cerf''. The
Royal Navy acquired ''Cerf'' at the surrender of
Santo Domingo on 30 November 1803. The Royal Navy sold her in 1806.
Prior history
''Cerf'' had a complex history of ownership. She was built at Havana in 1794-95 as the
Spanish Navy's ''Ciervo'' (or ''Cuervo''). The British acquired her and named her ''Stag''. On 15 December 1801 the Captain-General of Guadeloupe purchased her and named her ''Cerf''.
French service
From end-December 1801 she was at
Dominica
Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically ...
and under the command of ''lieutenant de vaisseau'' Drouault. She arrived at
Brest, France, on 30 January 1802 with letters from Dominica; Admiral
Lacrosse, the former captain-general of Guadeloupe.
Magloire Pelage had replaced Lacrosse and sent him to Dominica.
''Cerf'' then returned to the West Indies. French records state that Drouault was still her commander at the time of her surrender.
''Cerf'' was one of numerous vessels surrendered on 30 November 1803 to a British squadron under the command of Captain John Loring in at
Cape Francois. The surrendered vessels then sailed to
Port Royal
Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and co ...
. A report from Jamaica listing the surrendered vessels that had arrived there gives the name of ''Cerf''s captain as Babron.
British service
The Royal Navy commissioned her under Commander George Barne Trollope.
''Cerf'' was Trollope's first command, and he was promoted to commander on 1 May 1804 to her. However, he was invalided home in December 1804 due to an attack of yellow fever.
On 3 July 1805 ''Cerf'' sailed to England as one of the escorts of the fleet of merchantmen sailing from Jamaica to England. As the fleet approached England ''Cerf'' was to escort the part bound for Bristol and Liverpool, but she had become leaky and was ordered to the nearest port. ''Cerf'', Captain Chamberlayne, arrived at Plymouth on 4 September.
Fate
The Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy offered the "Musette and Cerf sloops" for sale on 27 August 1806 at Plymouth.
She was sold at that time.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerf (1803)
1790s ships
Brigs of the French Navy
Captured ships
Brigs of the Royal Navy