HMS Seahorse was a 24-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1748. Constructed at Sheerness Dockyard from February 1748, she was built to a design by Surveyor Jacob Acworth, with her keel laid on 23 February and launched on 13 September of that year. Her initial completion cost was approximately £4,064, with additional expenses for fitting out. Seahorse was commissioned in November 1748 under Captain Samuel Barrington and initially served in the Mediterranean, returning to the English Channel by 1752. Over the subsequent years, she saw service in North America, the North Sea, and in support of operations in Manila during the Seven Years' War. The vessel underwent significant repairs in 1760 and 1763, notably at Deptford, to maintain her seaworthiness. She was active in combat, notably fighting an engagement against the French 32-gun frigate L’Aigrette in January 1761 and capturing the French frigate Sartine in August 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. Seahorse participated in notable battles off India between 1781 and 1783, including Sadras, Providien, Negapatam, Trincomalee, and Cuddalore, under various commanders such as Captain Robert Montagu and Charles Hughes. In 1784, she was sold by the Royal Navy for £1,115 and became the mercantile Ravensworth, serving as an East Indiaman under charter to the British East India Company. Her voyages took her to Madras, Bengal, and Bencoolen, with detailed routes including Johanna, Penang, Aceh, and Bencoolen, before returning to Britain in 1788. Subsequently, she was sold to C. Herries & Co. and renamed Ravensworth. In 1789, she was purchased by the French East India Company, refitted at Bordeaux, and renamed Citoyen. The French Navy acquired her in 1793, using her as a frigate. During her French service, she captured British vessels such as Golden Age and Courier, and was last listed in 1801. Notably, Horatio Nelson served aboard her as a midshipman early in his naval career, highlighting her significance in maritime history. Seahorse’s long service life and involvement in key naval conflicts, along with her transition from Royal Navy vessel to merchantman and French warship, underscore her maritime importance during the mid-18th to early 19th centuries.

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