Biscayneer (1779 ship)

English cutter

For other ships with the same name, see Biscayneer (ship).

History
Great Britain
Name| Biscayneer
Launched| 1779
Renamed| Retreat (1783)
Fate| Last listed 1784
General characteristics
Tons burthen| 80 (bm)
Complement| 30 (as privateer)
Armament| 8 × 4-pounder guns (1779-1783)
Notes| One mast

Biscayneer was a cutter launched in 1779. From at least 1781 on she was a privateer based in Dartmouth, Devon. She captured or recaptured several vessels before her owner-captain sold her in 1783 after the end of the American War of Independence. New owners renamed her Retreat. She was last listed in 1784.

## Career

[edit]

Biscyneir first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1782.[1]

Year  | Master  | Owner  | Trade  | Source

|
|
|
|

1782  | Crowte  | Captain & Co.  | Dartmouth privateer  | LR

Captain William Croute had acquired a letter of marque on 17 April 1781. Biscayneer's owner was listed as Robert Newman & Co. This was a letter of marque against France. He had earlier acquired letters of marque against the United States, Spain, and Holland.[a]

Lloyd's List reported in June 1781 that the Dartmouth privateer Biscayneer, Crowte, master, had taken and sent into Dartmouth a French brig carrying a cargo of wine, brandy and bale goods.[3] Prize money was awarded on 6 December 1781 for the French vessel Valiant.

A year or so later, in July 1782, Lloyd's List reported that the privateer Biscayneer had recaptured Saville, Ray, master, one of the Newfoundland fleet, and brought her into Dartmouth.[4] Biscayneer would have been entitled to salvage for the recapture.

Later in July, Biscayneer, Crowte, master, captured and sent into Dartmouth Modeste, which had been sailing from Ferrol in ballast.[5] The Spanish-built snow of 70 tons (bm), was sold on 19 August.

Vessel  | Year  | Master  | Owner  | Trade  | Source & notes

|
|
|
|
|

Biscayneer | 1783  | Crowte  | Captain & Co.  | Dartmouth privateer  | LR
Retreat | 1783  | Robert West  | P.Ogier  | Dartmouth–Newfoundland  | LR

## Fate

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Retreat was last listed in 1784.

## Note

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1. ^ The size of her crew makes it clear that Biscayneer was a privateer. For instance, during the French Revolutionary Wars Jersey privateers averaged one man for every two tons of burthen; during the Napoleonic Wars the average dropped to one man per five tons. These ratios greatly exceeded the number of men required to crew the vessels. The extra men were intended as prize crews in captured vessels.[2]

## Citations

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1. ^ LR (1782), Seq.No.B401.
2. ^ Meyer (1986), p. 176.
3. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1274\. 8 June 1781. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105233001. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
4. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1379\. 16 July 1782. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105233001. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
5. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1384\. 3 August 1782. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105233001. Retrieved 9 February 2022.

## References

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* Meyer, W.R. (1986). "Chapter 7:The Channel Island Privateers, 1793–1815". In Jameison, A.G. (ed.). A people of the sea: the maritime history of the Channel Islands. London: Methuen. pp. 173–194\. ISBN 0416405401.173-194&rft.pub=Methuen&rft.date=1986&rft.isbn=0416405401&rft.aulast=Meyer&rft.aufirst=W.R.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Biscayneer+(1779+ship)" class="Z3988">