Name Ciervo Launched 1794-5 Name Stag | Builder Havana Captured Unknown date Acquired By capture | |
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.
Contents
Cerf had a complex history of ownership. She was built at Havana in 1794-95 as the Spanish Navy's Ciervo. 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
Between end-December 1801 and end-February 1802 she was at Dominica and under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Drouault. Drouault was still her commander at the time of her surrender.
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.
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.