HMS Port Royal was a former French armed merchant vessel originally named Comte de Maurepas, captured by the British in 1778. She was a vessel of approximately 463 tons (bm), initially armed with eight guns and a crew of 32 men. After her capture, the British armed her with 18 guns, specifically eighteen 6-pounders, along with a dozen swivel guns, and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy under the new name Port Royal. The vessel's construction details prior to her capture suggest she was a sizable merchant ship, suitable for conversion to naval service. Her service history began in early 1779, with Commander Michael John Everitt taking command at her commissioning on 1 January 1779. She operated primarily in the Caribbean, serving in patrol and escort duties. During her service, she was involved in encounters with French vessels, notably participating in the chase and eventual capture of the French frigate Prudente in June 1779, during which Commander Everitt was killed by a chance shot from Prudente’s guns. In January 1780, command transferred to Commander Timothy Kelly. The vessel played a significant role during the Siege of Pensacola in 1781, arriving to assist British forces under siege by Spanish troops. During this campaign, Port Royal's crew was actively engaged in foraging, shore defenses, and combat operations. Unfortunately, on 1 April 1781, the Spanish captured her without resistance amidst the chaos of the siege. The casualties aboard Port Royal included several killed and wounded, with the last attack costing the lives of crew members, including Midshipman John Blair. Her maritime significance lies in her service during a pivotal campaign in the American Revolutionary War, exemplifying the use of converted merchant vessels in naval operations and illustrating the volatile nature of Caribbean naval conflicts during that period. After her capture, she remained a notable part of the naval engagements in the region until her loss in 1781.

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