French frigate Libre (1796)
Introduction '''''Libre''''' was a  of the French Navy. She was commissioned in 1800 and remained in active service until the Royal Navy captured her in 1805.
Career ''Libre'' was built at Le Havre, launched in 1796, and commissioned there on 24 December 1800 under Commander Bourdet. She sailed from Le Havre in March 1801 in the company of  towards Cherbourg, then Cadiz and A Coruña, before cruising to Saint-Domingue and into the North Sea.From September to December 1803 she was stationed at the mouth of the River Meuse.On 24 December 1805, HMS ''Egyptienne'' and HMS ''Loire'' captured her  north-west of Rochefort, near the "Phare de Baleines" (Lighthouse of the Whales) on the Île de Ré. ''Libre'' suffered two killed and 18 wounded, including her captain, Commander Deschorches. ''Loire'' had no casualties but ''Egyptienne'' had eight men wounded, one mortally.By British report, ''Libre'' was armed with twenty-four 18-pounders (which had replaced her originally-planned 24-pounders), six 36-pounder obusiers and ten 9-pounder guns. ''Libre'' was badly damaged and lost her masts soon after she struck. ''Loire'' then took her in tow and reached Plymouth with her on 4 January 1806.The British did not take ''Libre'' into Royal Navy service.
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