French ship Brutus (1803)

Brutus was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. Launched on 24 January 1803, she was renamed Impétueux on 5 February 1803.

She served in the Caribbean under Willaumez during the Atlantic campaign of 1806.

On 19 August 1806, she was dismasted in a tempest and drifted until 10 September. On the 14th, she was chased by Strachan's squadron comprising HMS Belleisle (1795), HMS Bellona (1760) and HMS Melampus (1785); unable to fight, she beached herself in Chesapeake Bay. The wreck was set ablaze by the British and the crew was taken prisoner.