HMS Bellona (1806)

The Bellone was a French privateer frigate, which cruised under Jacques François Perroud and achieved fame with the capture of large East Indiaman Lord Nelson on 14 August 1803. She was captured by HMS Powerful during the Action of 9 July 1806, and incorporated in the Royal Navy as HMS Bellona, later HMS Blanche.

French privateer
Bellone was designed as a powerful privateer, armed with 32 8-pounder long guns and a crew of 200 men. She operated from Ile de France from 1801. On 14 August 1803, she met the large East Indiaman Lord Nelson and managed to capture her by boarding.

In the Action of 9 July 1806, Bellone was attacked by the 74-gun ship of the line HMS Powerful. She attempted to flee for almost two hours, trading shots with the much more potent opponent, before strinking her colours. Perroud was commended for his spirited defence against overwhelming odds; William James, notably, described Perroud's actions as "extraordinary".

Royal Navy ship
After her capture, Bellone was incorporated in the Royal Navy as HMS Bellona, armed as a sixth-rate frigate of 28 guns. She was renamed HMS Blanche in 1809.

On 26 July or August 1810, Blanche captured the French privateer Confiance.

She was struck in 1814.