HMS Daedalus (1780)

HMS Daedalus was a 32-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1780 from the yards of John Fisher, of Liverpool. She went on to serve in the American War of Independence, as well as the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

American War of Independence
Daedalus entered service in 1780 under the command of Captain Thomas Pringle. He escorted a convoy to North America in May 1781, accompanied by Captain Horatio Nelson in the 28-gun Sixth rate HMS Albemarle (1779). Pringle went on to serve in the English Channel the following year, capturing the French privateer Moustic on 20 January 1782, and the privateer Légère on 11 December 1782. Pringle escorted a convoy to Newfoundland during the year, and in 1783 was engaged in patrolling the Shetland fisheries. The Daedalus was paid off in July 1784, and in 1790 underwent a Great Repair at Rotherhithe, that lasted until 1793.

French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Captain Charles Henry Knowles recommissioned the Daedalus in March 1793, and sailed her to the Halifax station. Knowles was replaced by Captain Thomas Williams in September 1794, during which time Daedalus was part of Admiral Adam Duncan's fleet. In September 1795, Captain George Countess took over, and Daedalus sailed to the West African coast and then on to Jamaica. In January 1797, Daedalus was deployed against the French Expédition d'Irlande and on 8 January she was involved in the capture of the troopship Suffern and burnt her to avoid weakening the crew by dispersing them in the prize.

Command passed to Henry Ligbird Ball in March 1797, who on 9 February 1799 captured the 36-gun Prudente off the Cape of Good Hope. He sailed on to the East Indies, operating successfully in the Dutch East Indies at Batavia Roads. Command then passed temporarily to Lieutenant Charles James Johnson and then Captain William Waller before Daedalus returned to Britain and was placed in reserve in 1803. She was fitted out for service with Trinity House that year, followed by repair works from December 1805 to December 1806 to fit her out as a floating battery on the Thames at Woolwich. She recommissioned under Captain Frederick Warren in December 1806 and in March 1807 sailed for Jamaica. She was in action on 11 November 1808 when she helped in the capture of the town of Samana in San Domingo, also taking the 5-gun privateers Guerrière and Exchange.

Fate
Command passed to Captain Samuel Inglefield in 1809 who continued on the Jamaica station until Daedalus was badly damaged in a hurricane. She was found to be rotten through and was paid off in October 1810 and broken up at Sheerness in July 1811.