to call off the attack, and Leiths batteries were not used. On 18 March 1781 Captain Rothe sailed Leith from Leith Roads for Shetland as escort to a convoy carrying store, engineers, and artillery and artificers to establish a fort there. Leith was to stop at Aberdeen to pick up troops for the fort. While serving off Greenland, having recently finished convoying ships to Shetland, Leith captured the 18-gun Dunkirk privateer Necker. Necker initially spotted and chased Leith, who found she could not outrun the privateer and turned to engage her. Necker then mistook Leith for a frigate and began to sail away from her, only to lose her topmast in her haste to escape. Leith was then able to catch up with the privateer which quickly surrendered, having already thrown her guns overboard in an attempt to increase speed. Necker was sent in to Lerwick some time before 28 April. On 5 August Leith was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank, still commanded by Rothe, as part of the escort to the convoy that Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker sought to protect in the battle. In mid-August Lloyd's List reported that the armed ship Leith had arrived at Leith with the trade from the Baltic. Leith was removed from Royal Navy service in July 1782. Mercantile service: Fate Leith was last listed in the 1783 volume of LR. Notes Citations References 1740s ships Age of Sail merchant ships Whaling ships Hired armed vessels of the Royal Navy Leith