The vessel Vénus was a French Navy corvette launched in January 1794, originally constructed in Bordeaux. She was initially built as a privateer before the French Navy purchased her while still on the stocks. The ship was completed and commissioned as Vengeance, armed with a total of 26 guns: twenty-two 8-pounders on her upper deck and four 4-pounders on her galliards, which served as her quarterdeck and forecastle. During her service, Vénus underwent several modifications. Between 1796 and 1798, her armament was adjusted; she was fitted with four obusiers on her gaillards, and later carried ten 4-pounder guns on her galliards. She was commanded by various officers, including lieutenant de vaisseau Pimare early in her career, and later by lieutenant de vaisseau Desagenaux, who commanded her during her participation in the Expédition d'Irlande in 1796. She also carried dispatches to Saint-Domingue and transported troops and funds to colonies such as Cayenne and Guadeloupe. Vénus was actively engaged in notable military operations, including her participation in the Battle of Tory Island under the command of capitaine de frégate Louis-André Senez as part of Commodore Savary’s squadron. Her service saw her sailing from Bordeaux to Brest, Dunkirk, and participating in expeditions along the Atlantic coast. In 1800, she was under the command of capitaine de frégate Bourrand and was on a mission to Senegal when she was captured by the British Royal Navy off the Portuguese coast on 22 October 1800. At the time of her capture, Vénus was armed with 32 guns and had a crew of approximately 200 men. She was sailing from Rochefort to Senegal when British ships Indefatigable and Fisgard engaged and captured her. The Royal Navy subsequently commissioned her as HMS Scout in November 1800. She was fitted at Plymouth but was deemed too small and inadequately armed for extended service in the Royal Navy, as she was designed for short-range privateering rather than long-range patrols. Her service was brief; she participated in operations along the Channel before being wrecked on the Shingles, Isle of Wight, on 25 March 1801. Despite efforts to lighten her, she foundered with the loss of all hands, though the crew was rescued. A court martial later absolved her commander, Henry Duncan, of blame for the wreck.

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