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NARCISSUS - one of a class of three ships built 1800 - 1805 (her sisters were Tartar and Cornelia). She was built at Deptford, being launched 12 May 1801. She measured 142 ft x 37 ft 8in x 12 ft 6 ins = 893 tons. She was armed with 26 x 18 pdr cannon on the upper deck; 2 x 9 pdr cannon and 8 x 24 pdr carronades on the quarterdeck and 2 x 9 pdr cannon & 2 x 24 pdr carronades of the forecastle.
She first commissioned in 1801 by Captain Percy Fraser whilst she fitted out, superseded by Captain Ross Donnelly at the end of the year for service initially in the North Sea, sailing for the Mediterranean in February 1802. Took part in the blockade of Toulon; captured privateer l'Alcion off Sardinia 8.7.03; in company with other ships destroyed a convoy in Hyeres Bay 11.7.04. Returned to England 12.1804. Sailed for West Indies 4.1804 with convoy; returned late 1804 and then late1805 to the Cape as part of the force to capture the colony. Destroyed privateer Napoleon 24.12.1805; took part in the expedition to the River Plate in 1806; returned UK late 1806. Captain Charles Malcolm took command for service in home waters, where she remained until 1812, Captain Frederick Aylmer being in command from 7.1809. During this time, she captured another four privateers. After refitting in 1812, she re-commissioned by Captain John Lumley for service in West Indies / North American waters; took part in ops against USA; captured two US privateers. Returned UK in 1814 and laid up at Deptford 1816. In 1823 she was converted to serve as a hospital for the convict hulks moored in the Thames. She was finally sold to be broken up in 1837.
(above extracted from “British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 – 1817” by Rif Winfield (London, 2005)
NAPOLEON - was a St. Malo privateer. The following is her entry from "Nomenclature des navire Français de 1800 a 1815" by Alain Demerliac (Nice 2003):
NAPOLEON (1805 - ex Bonaparte?)
Trois-mâts corsaire de St-Malo, armé a St-Servan en 1-1805, construit a St-Malo en 1803/1804. Tirants d'eau 3,35 m lège et 4,87 m en charge, armament en 1-1805: 28 Pièces d’artillerie: 4 viii, 6 vi, 16 caronades xxxii et 2 obusiers xxxvi.
1-1805/8-1805 (Alla à I’lle de France): Cdt Malo – Jean Le NOUVEL
400 tonneaux 180 a 250 hommes 28 pièces d’artillerie.
9 – 1805 (à I’lle de France) Cdt Malo-Jean Le NOUVEL 400 tx 180 – 250 h. 32 pièces d’artillerie
23-11-1805: Il s’échoua a Hood Bay, près du Cap de Bonne-Esperance, sous le feu de deux frégates anglaises, dont HMS NARCISSUS de 32; l’équippage s’échappa.
I can find little on the encounter - this is an entry from The Gazette number 15927, dated 10 June 1806, giving the vessels captured by the Narcissus, as part of the list of ships and vessels captured by the squadron under Commodore Sir Home Popham:
"- Spanish Brig Il Volant, of 25 Men and 40. Tons, from Canada bound to the Fishery, laden with Salt and Ballast: Captured by the Narcissus, October 6, 1805, and afterwards liberated.
- French Brig: Le Prudent, of 12 Guns, 70 Men, and 120 tons from Teneriffe, on a Cruize: Captured by ditto, October 30, 1805, and sent to St Helena.
- English Ship Horatio, of 22 Guns and 300 Tons, laden with Rum, Tobacco, Slaves, Ivory, &c.: Recaptured by ditto, stove on the Coast of Africa, and ordered to be delivered to her Master, who was at Cape Manfarada.’
- French ship Corvette Napoleon, from Table Bay: Run on Shore by the Narcissus, Dec. 25, 1805
-Batavian Sloop Catherina, of 5 Men and 25 Tons, from Table Bay bound to Simon's Bay, laden with Naval Stores: Captured by ditto, December 25, 1805,—broke up."