HMS Europa (1783)

HMS Europa was a 50-gun Fourth-rate Royal Navy ship built by the Woolwich Dockyard in 1783. The Europa was based out of Jamaica, and ran aground at Montego Bay in 1785, but was not seriously damaged. When reports of the War of the First Coalition reached the British posts in Jamaica, the Europa was sent into action along with the entire British Jamaican squadron, which consisted of several 12-pounder frigates and a number of smaller vessels, under the command of Commodore John Ford.

Service
In April 1793, when the Royal Navy station in Jamaica received word of the War of the First Coalition, the Jamaican naval squadron, under the command of Commodore John Ford, became active. The Europa served as a troop transport, and also helped capture French merchant vessels, carrying produce and supplies. On June 1st, 1794, the Europa assisted HMS Belliqueux (1780), HMS Penelope (1783), and HMS Sceptre (1781) in attacking French fortifications during the capture of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. On January 1st, 1799, Captain George Gregory was relieved of duty and James Stevenson took command. The Europa was involved with the British expedition to Egypt in 1801, where it participated in the landing at Aboukir Bay, an overwhelming attack that defeated the French and led to the British capture of Cairo. The Europa was sold in 1814.

Notable crew members

 * Joseph Whidbey - Royal Navy officer, served on the Vancouver Expedition, namesake of Whidbey Island, Washington and Joseph Whidbey State Park, also in Washington State.
 * George Vancouver - Royal Navy officer, commanded the 1791-95 expedition along North America's Pacific Coast. Namesake of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Vancouver, Washington, Mount Vancouver, and Mount Vancouver (New Zealand).
 * James Vashon - Royal Navy officer, served on the Vancouver Expedition, namesake of Vashon Island, Washington.
 * Henry Digby - Senior Royal Navy officer, nephew of Admiral Robert Digby, notably saved the crew of HMS Boyne (1790) when it was accidentally set on fire at Spithead, Great Britain.
 * Peter Puget - Royal Navy officer, namesake of the Puget Sound, which he explored. Also named after him is Puget Island, Washington State.
 * Joseph Baker - Royal Navy officer, served on the Vancouver Expedition as a mapmaker and surveyor. Namesake of Mt. Baker.
 * John Bligh - Royal Navy officer, served during the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars.
 * John Cooke - Royal Navy officer, served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. Killed at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, in hand-to-hand combat.