HMS Boxer was a 12-gun Bold-class gun-brig of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 July 1812. As part of the Bold class, which revived Sir William Rule's Confounder-class design from 1804, she was originally armed with ten 18-pounder carronades and two 6-pounder bow chasers. Built by Hobbs & Hellyer at Redbridge, Hampshire, she was commissioned in August 1812 under Commander George Rose Sartorius, with brief command also possibly held by R. Coote before Commander Samuel Blyth took over in September. During her short naval service, Boxer operated primarily in North American waters, including Halifax, where Blyth augmented her armament to a total of fourteen guns—twelve 18-pounder carronades and two long 6-pounder guns. Her activities included capturing seven small coasting vessels. Notably, on 17 April 1813, Boxer engaged the American brig USS Enterprise under Lieutenant William Burrows. During the fierce battle, Blyth was killed in the first broadside, which also dismasted Boxer. Despite her valiant resistance—continuing to fight for about half an hour—Boxer was forced to surrender after being dismasted and outgunned. Blyth was buried in Portland with full honors alongside Burrows, who also died in the engagement. Following her capture, Boxer was sold at auction in Portland, Maine, for US$5,600, with her armament and ballast bringing total proceeds of US$9,755. Her guns were repurposed to arm the Maine privateer Hyder Ali, which itself experienced limited success before being captured in 1814. Boxer was initially used for coastal defense but soon transitioned into a merchant vessel. Her first commercial voyage, in April 1815 under Captain William McLellan Jr., took her to Havana, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Marseilles, and back to New York. She continued sailing along the North American coast and to the West Indies. Around 1818, she was sold to a Portuguese firm for use as a mail packet between Cape Verde and Lisbon. It is believed that Boxer was eventually lost off the coast of Brazil after her commercial service. This vessel's history highlights her brief but notable role during the War of 1812 and her subsequent maritime career.

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