Action of 30 September 1780

The Action of 30 September 1780 was a minor naval engagement off the Bermudas, where HMS Pearl captured the L'Espérance, a French built frigate privateer of 32 guns.

HMS Pearl under the command of George Montagu was sent out to North America, and on 30 September 1780, soon encountered a frigate off the Bermudas. As Pearl closed Montagu cleared for action and engaged close for and maintained a running fight for two hours and more when the frigate struck.

The prize turned out to be the French frigate L'Espérance of about 850 tons of thirty two guns consisting of twelve and six pounders, nearly 200 men and with a valuable cargo heading from Cape Francois to Bourdeaux. L'Espérance lost 20 killed and 24 wounded as well as the crew & marines captured, while Pearl's loses were six killed and ten wounded. The captured French frigate was put into Royal Naval service and renamed HMS Clinton.