French ship Protée (1772)

Protée was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1772.

She was captured by the Royal Navy on 24 February 1780 by Captain Lord Robert Manners aboard HMS Resolution (1770), and commissioned as the third rate HMS Prothee. She was converted to serve as a prison ship in 1799, and broken up in 1815. Eight of her small cannon were purchased by John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland and are currently at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire. The cannon are still fired on special occasions, such as weddings and the Duke's birthday.