HMS Harpy, launched at Liverpool in 1777, was a vessel initially purchased by the British Royal Navy while still on the stocks. She was commissioned in April 1777 under Commander Roger Wills for service in Home waters. Throughout her naval career, Harpy primarily served in the North Atlantic and surrounding areas, including Belfast and Plymouth. She was designated as a fireship in 1779, undergoing temporary fitting for this role, which involved modifications suitable for incendiary damage. During her service, she participated in various actions, including the capture of the American privateer Revenge alongside HMS Boston on 30 April 1779, and shared in the prize money for captures such as the French privateer Comte d’Estaing in 1780, and the Spanish frigate Santa Leucadia in 1781. Harpy was also involved in the relief of Gibraltar and shared in the prize money from several other captures, including the Noord Beck and the Neptune. In May 1782, Commander Sir James Barclay took command, and Harpy was paid off in March 1783, with her sale finalized at Woolwich for £2,395, which included her masts, yards, rigging, and stores. Post-naval service, Harpy transitioned to commercial endeavors, becoming a whaler operating in the Greenland and Davis Straits regions. She appeared in Lloyd's List reports in 1785 and 1786, returning from whaling voyages with catches of whales. She was registered in Lloyd’s Register from 1786, with master J. Marshall and owner J. Dawse, trading between London and Greenland. Subsequently, her ownership changed to Stephens, and she continued whaling, with voyages to Greenland and Davis Strait. In 1792, Harpy was acquired by the Sierra Leone Company, serving as a merchant vessel supporting the colony established there. She set sail from the Downs for Sierra Leone in January 1792, arriving with settlers and supplies. However, her career ended in September 1794 when a French naval squadron captured her off the West African coast. The French took her into service as Harcourt, later renamed Harpie, but she was struck from the French naval lists in 1796. Her capture marked her as a vessel of maritime significance, illustrating the turbulent period of naval conflict and commercial enterprise during the late 18th century.

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