French frigate Favorite (1810)

Favorite was the 44-gun Pallas-class frigate Favorita of the Navy of the Kingdom of Italy. The Italians exchanged her to the French Navy for the three brigs Cyclope, Écureuil and Mercure.

Favorite (far left) at the Battle of Lissa, 1811, by Robert Dodd
For other ships with the same name, see French ship Favorite.
Clorinde, sister ship of Favorite
History
Flag of the Napoleonic Kingdom of ItalyKingdom of Italy
NameFavorita
BuilderVenice
Launched1810
Out of service14 June 1810
FateTransferred to France
France
NameFavorite
NamesakeFavourite
Acquired14 June 1810
FateDestroyed 13 March 1811
General characteristics
Class and typePallas-class frigate
Displacement1,080 tonnes
Length46.93 m (154 ft 0 in)
Beam11.91 m (39 ft 1 in)
Draught5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Propulsion1,950 m2 (21,000 sq ft) of sail
Complement326
Armament

Career

On 12 March 1811, Favorite, under Bernard Dubourdieu,[1] led a frigate squadron to raid the British commerce raider base of the island of Lissa. The squadron encountered William Hoste's frigate squadron, leading to the Battle of Lissa.

In the ensuing fight, Favorite attempted to board the British flagship HMS Amphion, distancing herself from the rest of her squadron. As the two ships neared, Amphion discharged a howitzer full of bullets which rendered a large number of the French casualties. Dubourdieu himself was killed at 9:10. Favorite's first officer and second officers were killed as they attempted again to board Amphion. As she sailed around Amphion in an attempt to rake her and take her in a crossfire with the other French frigates, Favorite was outmanoeuvred and ran aground.

Her crew set her on fire, and she exploded as the battle was still ongoing. Led by colonel Gifflinga, the crew of Favorite captured a coastal boat at Port St George which they used to flee to Lessina.[2]

References
  1. "Dubourdieu". Archived from the original on 2014-02-19.
  2. "Favorite (+1811)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 2022-09-01.

43°4′36.26″N 16°9′13″E

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