The French corvette Mignonne was an 18-gun vessel of the Etna class, launched in 1795 and built in Cherbourg between 1794 and 1797. She was launched on October 15, 1795, and briefly served at Cherbourg under Commander Jourdan from September 3 to 16, 1797. As an Etna-class corvette, Mignonne was recognized for her notable speed and agility, qualities that earned her a reputation as a "remarkably fast sailing Ship Corvette." During her service, Mignonne operated in the Caribbean under Lieutenant Yset in 1803, participating in the campaign against British forces led by Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse. She took part in the capture of Fort Graville on February 6 and Camp de Louise on February 8, showcasing her active involvement in the French Caribbean military efforts. Her most significant engagement occurred on June 28, 1803, when while sailing with the frigate Poursuivante, Mignonne encountered a British convoy off Saint-Domingue. She was intercepted by HMS Goliath, which captured her after a brief engagement at 11:45 a.m. Despite her small crew of around 80 men under Commander Jean-Pierre Bargeau, Mignonne's speed and maneuverability made her a noteworthy prize. She was carrying sixteen 18-pounder guns, although six had been landed. After her capture, she was taken into British hands as HMS Mignonne, designated as an 18-gun ship sloop-of-war, although she was never commissioned into the Royal Navy under this name, with Commander Edward Hawker assigned as her captain. Her service in the Royal Navy was brief. In July 1804, she was towed off Port Royal, Jamaica, when she was struck by lightning, causing fatalities and damage to her masts. She continued to serve briefly, capturing the French brig St. Antonio y les Animas in October 1804, before being laid up in mud at Port Royal in December 1804 and subsequently condemned. Her short but active career highlights her role in the naval conflicts of the era, exemplifying the agility and combat engagement typical of the Etna-class corvettes.

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