The Belle Poule was a French frigate of the Dédaigneuse class, designed by Léon-Michel Guignace, built in Bordeaux between March 1765 and early 1767. She was constructed with a focus on good sailing performance, which led to her selection for early experiments with copper sheathing to combat marine growths during her service in the West Indies. As a frigate, she was armed with 32 12-pounder guns and had a crew of approximately 275 men. Throughout her service, Belle Poule participated in various notable missions and engagements. She served in two campaigns in the West Indies and conducted hydrographic missions from 1772 to 1776, during which the young La Pérouse drew attention for his work. In December 1776, she departed India for Brest, carrying diplomatic and intelligence missions. Despite British attempts to inspect her in January 1777, she successfully evaded capture, returning to Brest after 36 days due to unfavorable winds. Belle Poule's most famous engagement occurred on 17 June 1778, during her duel with the British frigate HMS Arethusa. During this battle, Belle Poule lost 30 men, including her captain, Lieutenant Jean Isaac Chadeau de la Clocheterie, and sustained significant damage, with her main mast lost. Despite her losses, she and another French vessel managed to escape a superior British fleet. The battle gained widespread fame, inspiring the fashion hairstyle "Belle Poule" among high society women. In 1778, she teamed with the French ship Vengeur to capture five privateers and later served as a coast guard and convoy escort. On 14 July 1780, Belle Poule was engaged and captured by the British ship Nonsuch off Île d'Yeu, under the command of Raymond-Marie de Kergariou-Coatlès, who was killed in the action. In February 1781, Belle Poule was commissioned into the British Royal Navy, retaining her name, and served under Captain Philip Patton with William Bligh as her master. During her British service, she participated in the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1781, where she notably retrieved the Dutch ship Hollandia's flag. She continued in service until November 1782, after which she was laid up at Chatham, served briefly as a receiving ship from 1796, and was ultimately sold for breaking up in 1801. Her career exemplifies the versatility and combat significance of frigates in the late 18th century maritime conflicts.

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