Built at Le Havre for the French Navy.
September 1755 keel laid down.
March 1756 launched under the name AIGRETTE on of the Blonde class. A Jean-Joshep Ginoux design.
Tonnage between 480 and 540 ton., dim. 40.3 x 10.3 x 5.3m.
Armament: 26 – 8pdrs. and 4 – 4 pdrs.
July 1756 commissioned.
20 November 1759 took part in the Battle of Quiberon under command of Capt. de Longueville, after the battle she escaped to Viliane.
27 September 1765 after re-commissioned at Rochefort sailed to the dry-dock for repair.
September 1773 returned from French Guyana after the Seven Years War with on board Knight de Kerlérec the Governor of Guyana.
18 March 1779 she chased and damaged HMS ARETHUSA off Ushant, the ARETHUSA got lost on Ile Moléne that night. (Most probably she is the other vessel depict on this stamp of Jersey).
1781 – 1782 A unit of the squadron of Admiral De Grasse in America and the French West Indies.
11 September 1781 she captured the 5th Rate frigate HMS RICHMOND
July/August ordered by de Grasse to proceed to Havana to pick up the provided funds needed by Rochambeau to pay and feed his army, the money collected by the people of Cuba and Spanish Government, she rejoined De Grasse in the Old Bahamas Channel with on board 500.000 Piasters.
September 1781 transport for troops from Annapolis to the James River she transported the troops of the Villebrune Division, which were used in the siege of Yorktown.
October 1789 condemned at Brest.
Jersey 1987 29p sg419, scott?
Source: Some web-sites and http://www.netmarine.net/dico/index.htm