The French frigate Cléopâtre was a 32-gun vessel of the Vénus class, designed by Jacques-Noël Sané, and launched in 1781. She featured a coppered hull, which contributed to her durability and performance at sea. As a frigate, she was built for speed and agility, serving in various naval engagements during her active years. Cléopâtre's notable service included participation in the Battle of Cuddalore in late June 1783, where she served as the flagship under Suffren. Her combat history came to a pivotal point on 19 June 1793, off Guernsey, when she encountered the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Nymphe. During a fierce engagement, Cléopâtre lost her mizzenmast and wheel, rendering her unmanageable. The British forces then boarded her in a close-quarters action. Lieutenant de vaisseau Mullon, commanding Cléopâtre, was mortally wounded during the fight and died attempting to swallow his commission, mistaking it for secret signals. The British captain, Edward Pellew, captured her and sent the signals to the Admiralty. This event marked Cléopâtre as the first French frigate captured during the war, and her capture was recognized with the awarding of the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp "Nymphe 18 June 1793" in 1847. After her capture, the Royal Navy commissioned her as HMS Oiseau in September 1793 under Captain Robert Murray. She served actively in the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, capturing enemy vessels and participating in blockades and raids. Notably, she seized French vessels carrying valuable cargo, such as flour, naval stores, and coffee, and captured the French warship Esperance in January 1795. Between 1793 and 1795, she also carried Russian naval officer Yuri Lisyanski, who later captained the Russian-American Company's sloop Neva. Throughout her service, HMS Oiseau engaged in multiple naval actions, including the capture of French frigates off Ferrol and the seizure of Neptunus in 1800. She also participated in chasing and capturing privateers and enemy vessels, including the French privateer Espoir in 1801. Her career extended into the early 19th century, after which she was laid up and eventually sold for breaking up in 1816. Overall, Cléopâtre/Oiseau was a significant vessel for her resilience and active service, capturing numerous enemy vessels and playing a notable role during the late 18th and early 19th centuries' naval 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.