HMS Deux Amis was originally a French privateer schooner launched in 1796. She was constructed as a swift, 14-gun vessel with an approximate burthen of 100 tons (bm), designed for raiding and privateering activities. In December 1796, she was captured by the British off the Irish coast by the ships Apollo and Polyphemus, after which she was taken into Royal Navy service under her existing name. Following her capture, Deux Amis arrived at Cork on 1 January 1797 and was officially registered on 16 March of that year. She was commissioned in February 1797 under the command of Master J. Watson. The vessel underwent fitting at Portsmouth from May to September 1798, preparing her for active service. In May 1798, command was transferred to Master Samuel Willson, under whom she captured notable targets such as the Spanish snow African Packet in November 1798. African Packet was carrying silver, which was entrusted to the firm Marsh and Creed, London, for legal transfer to the High Court of Admiralty. Deux Amis’s service was relatively brief, as she met her end in a maritime accident in May 1799. On the night of the 23rd to 24th of May, while sailing from Jersey to Portsmouth, she struck a sunken rock at Grange Chine on the Isle of Wight. The ship’s crew and passengers, including notable figures such as Lieutenants d'Auvergne and Lemprière, and Matthew Gosset, Viscount of Jersey, were safely evacuated. Despite efforts to save her, water ingress overwhelmed her pumps, and she began sinking. Captain Willson ordered her run ashore, which was successfully executed, preventing loss of life. Local fishing boats responded to her distress, but once she was ashore, the local populace prioritized plunder over rescue efforts. The incident prompted intervention from military authorities, with Captain Green of the North Hants militia sending a detachment to restore order. The wreck of Deux Amis marked the end of her brief but active career, and her service underscores the transient yet impactful role she played during her time in the Royal Navy.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.