Built as a cutter by James & Joseph Johnson at Dover, after a design of Sir John Henslow, for the Royal Navy.
29 March 1806 ordered.
July 1806 keel laid down.
15 November 1806 launched under the name HMS SURLY one of the Cheerful class.
Tonnage 137 ton (bm), dim. 63 x 23.6 x 10ft.
Armament: 2 – 4pdrs. and 10 – 12pdrs. carronades.
Crew 50.
23 November 1806 completed.
From 23 November till 04 May 1807 at Sheerness for fitting out.
January 1807 commissioned, under command of Lieut. Peter Crawford.
From May in service in the North Sea.
February 1809 command taken over by Lieut. Richard Welch, stationed at Guernsey. She was one of the British warships based at the Channel Islands when Philippe d’Auvergne Governor was of the islands.
21 April 1810 took together with HMS FIRM and SHARPSHOOTER the French privateer L’ALCIDE (4 guns) off Granville. The L’ALCIDE was grounded in the mouth of the Piron, and she was brought off.
1815 Command was taken over by Lieut. Mark Lucas, and in May 1816 by Lieut. J.Hills.
November 1818 under command of Lieut. Henry Wilson at Sheerness.
1822 Command taken over by Lieut. William Richardson.
1825 Under command of Lieut. Jos. Woolnough, from January 1825 used in the North Sea, afterwards employed in conveying specie to Dublin.
From October 1825 till October 1826 stationed in the River Wear to aid the civil power against striking seamen who were committing acts of violence. Subsequently reduced to 8 guns.
In 1827 she was similarly employed on the Tyne.
After serving on the coast of Scotland was she stationed off the Thames during the winter of 1827 for the suppression of smuggling.
17 May 1828 command was taken over by Lieut. William Usherwood.
From December 1832 till February 1833 was she fitted out as a barge at Chatham.
January 1837 sold for £400 to Mr. Rahn at Chatham.
On Jersey 1991 sg 543.
Source: http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/S2.HTM British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817 by Rif Winfield.