Hired armed cutter Flora (1794)

HM hired armed cutter Flora served the British Royal Navy under contract from 16 August 1794 until a French privateer captured her on 1 December 1798.

Flora was of 15786⁄94 tons (bm), and was armed with fourteen 4-pounder guns.[1]

Flora, Lieutenant James Reddy, and the hired armed cutter Stag captured the French privateer lugger Epervier.[2][Note 1] Flora had been reconnoitering Dunkirk when she captured Epervier, which was armed with two 2-pounder guns and six swivel guns. She had sailed from Havre de Grace on 5 May but had captured nothing. Flora arrived in The Downs on 15 May 1796.[4] Lloyd's List reported on 17 May 1796 that the cutter Flora had captured a French privateer of eight guns and 24 men. The lugger was from Havre and Flora sent her into Dover.[5]

Flora shared with Venerable, Repulse, Tamar, Clyde, and the cutter Princess Royal in the proceeds of the capture on 6 September of Hare.[6]

Flora captured Vriendshaft on the 19 February I797.[7]

On 11 February 1798, Flora, under the command of Lieutenant William Yawkins, captured the Spanish schooner Nuestra Senora del Carmen (alias Nimsa). The schooner had been sold at Lisbon.[8]

At some point Flora recaptured the Swedish brig Dorothea Frederica.[9]

Flora sailed to the Mediterranean where she spent time carrying despatches for Admiral Lord Nelson. On 11 September he sent her to Egypt and she returned on 25 October.[10] On 22 November, Flora was part of a squadron under Nelson that left Naples and sailed to Leghorn, arriving on the 28th. The British took possession of the town, as well as two armed polaccas and a merchant vessel.[11] Consequently, she shared with Vanguard, Culloden, Minotaur, and Terpsichorein the proceeds of the capture on 25 November of the Genoese corvettes Tigre and Eguaglianza off Leghorn.[12] The same vessels shared in the proceeds of the capture three days later of the Genoese polacca Nostra Signora del Carmine.[13]

Flora was under the command of Master William Yawkins on 1 December 1798 and en route to the Cape of Good Hope with mail and despatches when a French privateer captured her.[14] On 15 December Nelson, writing from Naples, mentioned that Flora had been lost.[15]