In 1772,
Southampton – at the time commanded by the capable
John MacBride, destined for a distinguished naval career – was sent to
Elsinore,
Denmark, to take on board and convey to exile in Germany the British Princess
Caroline Matilda, George III's sister, who had been deposed from her position as
Queen of Denmark due to her affair with the social reformer
Johan Struensee. Sometime in 1777, under command of Will Garnier, she captured sloops Swift and Speedwell, schooners Sally, Tryall, and Hope, and one unknown. Before 18 October she captured another schooner Sally. Before 11 November she captured snow Washington. On 7 December she captured schooner Hazard. On 19 December she captured brig Lark. On 22 December she captured ship Speculation. On 17 January, 1778 she captured schooner Unity. She captured Brig Henry on unknown date. On 1 April, 1778 her tender captured sloop "John & Milsey" off Montie Christi. On 3 August 1780,
Southampton captured the French privateer
lugger , of 12 guns and 80 men, under the command of Joseph Le Cluck. She had on board Mr. Andrew Stuart, Surgeon's Mate of HMS
Speedwell, "as a ransomer."
Comte de Maurepas had suffered shot holes between wind and water and sank shortly thereafter.
Southampton shared the
head money award with
Buffalo, , and .
Southampton took part in the
action of 9 August 1780, when a convoy she was escorting fell prey to a Franco-Spanish squadron. 55 merchantmen were captured, but she managed to escape. On 10 June 1796,
Southampton captured the French
corvette at
Hyères Roads, by boarding.
Utile was armed with twenty-four 6-pounder guns and was under the protection of a battery. She had a crew of 136 men under the command of Citizen François Veza. The French put up a resistance during which they suffered eight killed, including Veza, and 17 wounded;
Southampton had one man killed. The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS
Utile. , , and the
hired armed cutter were in company at the time, and with the British fleet outside Toulon. They shared with
Southampton in the proceeds of the capture, as did , , , and . On 2 December 1796
Southampton encountered the Spanish naval brig
El Corso off Monaco as
El Corso was on her way from Genoa to Barcelona.
Southampton captured
El Corso by boarding. She was armed with eighteen 6-pounder guns and had a crew of 136 men under the command of Don Antonio Oacaro. The Royal Navy took the brig into service as HMS
Corso. In September 1789
Richard Goodwin Keats was appointed her captain. She was engaged on two cruises of observation in the chops of the Channel and a voyage to Gibraltar conveying Prince Edward to his new command.
Southampton was readied as part of Lord Howe's fleet to respond to the Nootka sound incident, but was not required to put to sea. Keats had written to the Admiralty concerned at the state of his new command, which had not been in the docks for three years, during which she had grounded several times, and in 1790 she was paid off. On 2 September, 1800 she made contact with
USS Philadelphia in the West Indies. Mid January, 1801 she was at Basseterre, St. Christophers. ''
Lloyd's List reported that Southampton
and the sloop-of-war had run aground and lost their masts on the coast of Mississippi during a great hurricane on 19 and 20 August 1812, but that the crews were saved. Both vessels were refloated, repaired, and returned to service. Brazen
arrived at New Providence; Southampton
arrived at Jamaica on 6 October. Although neither vessel was lost in the hurricane, Southampton'' was lost about a month later when she hit an uncharted rock. On 22 November,
Southampton, under the command of Captain James Lucas Yeo, captured the American
brig .
Vixen was armed with twelve 18-pounder
carronades and two 9-pounder
bow chasers, and had a crew of 130 men under the command of Captain George Reed. She had been out five weeks but had not captured anything. == Fate ==